Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record in 2026, while global temperatures ranked as the second-highest ever recorded for the month, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The EU's climate monitoring service said the heat was driven by persistent warming across land and oceans, with global average surface air temperatures reaching 16.54°C. Sea surface temperatures in extra-polar oceans between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north averaged a record 20.86°C.
Exceptionally warm ocean temperatures persisted across large parts of the tropical Pacific as El Nino conditions developed and were expected to strengthen in the coming months.
A severe heat wave swept across much of western and central Europe during the second half of June, breaking monthly and all-time temperature records in several countries.
Western Europe recorded an average temperature of 20.74°C , its warmest June on record. Across Europe, the average land temperature reached 19.14°C, making it the continent's second-warmest June.
The heatwave came weeks after another intense heat event in May and was followed by extreme temperatures in early July, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of heat extremes, C3S said.
Heatwaves, drought worsen across Europe
"June 2026 underscored how profoundly the climate is changing," said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
Alongside the heat, much of western continental Europe experienced drier-than-average conditions. Persistent high pressure increased drought risks in parts of eastern Europe and fuelled wildfire activity, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.
Dry soils that had developed during May's heat wave further worsened drought conditions across western and central Europe.
Arctic sea ice extent in June was around 5 percent below average, the sixth-lowest for the month on record, with the largest declines observed in the northern Barents Sea around Svalbard and Franz Josef Land.
Antarctic sea ice extent was also around 8 percent below average, ranking as the sixth-lowest recorded for June.
