June was hottest on record in western Europe: EU monitor

Western Europe experienced its warmest June ever last month, enduring intense, successive heat waves, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. Globally, this past June ranked as the third hottest on record, continuing a recent trend of escalating temperatures driven by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, the previous two hottest Junes occurred in 2024 and 2023, underscoring the accelerating warming trend. Europe is particularly affected, warming at a rate several times faster than the global average.

Millions across Europe faced severe heat stress, with western European daily average temperatures reaching unprecedented levels for so early in the summer. Several nations recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, with parts of Spain and Portugal hitting as high as 46°C. Samantha Burgess, Copernicus's Strategic Lead for Climate, described the impact of these heat waves as "exceptional," exacerbated by record-high sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean. She warned that in a warming world, Europe can expect more frequent, intense, and widespread heat waves. Two distinct heat waves, from June 17-22 and June 30-July 2, were attributed to "heat domes" trapping warm air, leading to prolonged stifling conditions, increased pollution, and heightened wildfire risks.

The "feels-like" temperatures, which account for humidity's impact on the human body, were particularly severe in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and much of the Balkans. North of Lisbon, maximum feels-like temperatures reached 48°C, approximately 7°C above average, indicating "extreme heat stress." Additionally, sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean were "exceptionally high," reaching a record 27°C on June 30, about 5°C above average in some areas. These elevated water temperatures hindered nighttime cooling along coasts, increased humidity, and negatively impacted marine ecosystems.

Globally, June witnessed a catalogue of extreme weather events. An AFP analysis of Copernicus data indicated that 12 countries and roughly 790 million people worldwide experienced record heat last month. This included dangerous heat in parts of the United States and China, where 102 weather stations recorded their hottest-ever June day, with some exceeding 40°C. Beyond heat, devastating wildfires ravaged parts of Canada and southern Europe, while deadly floods affected areas in South Africa, China, and Pakistan. Copernicus also reported drier-than-average conditions across parts of western Europe, North America, eastern and southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, central and eastern Asia, and southern South America, while the southern U.S., parts of China, and southern Brazil experienced wetter-than-average conditions.