Western Europe recorded hottest June–July in 76 years, EU climate service says

BRUSSELS — Western Europe experienced its hottest June–July on record over the past 76 years, with average temperatures reaching 21.62 degrees Celsius, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported. The figure was 2.79 degrees above the 1991–2020 average for June, based on data compiled by the Bonn-based service. July was the hottest ever recorded across Europe as a whole, with an average of 20.49 degrees, according to the agency. Globally, last month tied with 2024 as the second-warmest July on record at 16.9 degrees, trailing only July 2023, when temperatures reached 16.95 degrees. The monthly global average stood 1.47 degrees above the pre-industrial baseline. Copernicus said four unusual heatwaves have affected the region since May, with soil moisture in the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and the United Kingdom falling to its lowest levels since 2022. Samantha Burgess, the service's climate strategy lead, said dry soils lose their natural cooling capacity, allowing heat to accumulate more easily. Global sea surface temperatures also reached a new July record, averaging 20.96 degrees, the service added.