The month of June was the hottest recorded in Western Europe and the second hottest in the world, given the temperatures recorded on land and at sea, today indicated Copernicus Service.
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A analysis of the Copernicus Service for Climate Change points to “temperatures close to the records, driven by higher sea surface temperatures (TSM) ever recorded for the month”, according to a statement.
“Europe has been hit by extreme heat on land and at sea during the month, with much of Western Europe suffering a record heat wave and marine heat waves in the Western Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts”, says Copernicus, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Term Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
In Western Europe there was an average temperature of 20.74 degrees Celsius (°C), 3.05 °C above the June average in the period between 1991-2020 and surpassing the previous record set in June 2025.
Globally, last month had an average air temperature of 16.54°C, 0.56°C above the average 1991-2020 for the month and after June 2024.
The average monthly TSM for the ocean to extrapolate was the highest ever, reaching 20.86°C and exceeding the record set in June 2024 by 0.01oC, “reflecting in part the development of strong conditions of El Niño in the equatorial Pacific”.
Copernicus notes that “the June heat wave broke monthly and historical records of temperature in several European countries and contributed to serious health impacts, including heat-related deaths”, having occurred “only a few weeks after a particularly intense heat wave in May”.
According to the deputy director of the service, “June 2026 stressed the depth of climate change”.
“Western Europe recorded the hottest June of its history and remained the record warming in the global ocean. Together, these records reflect a climate system that continues to accumulate heat. The result is increasingly intense heat waves, a persistently hot ocean and increasing risks to people, ecosystems and infrastructure throughout Europe and beyond,” notes Samantha Burgess, quoted in the statement.
In addition to much of Western Europe, including Italy, large areas of central and eastern Europe and the south of the United Kingdom, there were “dryer than average conditions associated with the persistence of high pressures and heat waves”, which increased the risk of drought in parts of Eastern Europe and contributed to forest fires, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula.
As for sea ice, the average monthly extension was about 5% below the average in the Arctic and about 8% below the average in Antarctica, occupying both percentages the sixth place among the lowest for the month.