Western Europe Records Hottest June Ever, 2nd Warmest Globally
Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record this year, according to a new report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74°C (69.33°F) in June, more than 3°C (5.4°F) above the 1991-2020 norm, according to the report. June’s extreme temperatures followed an initial spell of unusual warmth that swept across the region in May, with another wave already building in early July. Late in the month, the World Health Organization announced that Europe had reported more than 1,300 heat-related deaths since June 21. Severe drought resulting from the June heat fueled a massive wildfire in southern France in early July, burning more than 11,000 acres and forcing roughly 10,000 evacuations. According to the C3S report, June 2026 was also the second-hottest June ever recorded globally, with global average temperatures 0.56°C (1.01°F) hotter than the 1991-2020 average.
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Record heat is exposing weaknesses in Europe's transport networks as airports, railways and roads battle to adapt.
