This summer, Western Europe experienced unprecedented heat waves, breaking the June-July average temperature record set in 2022, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The intense heat began in May, leading to widespread wildfires, severe droughts, and new temperature highs across various countries, resulting in thousands of predicted heat-related fatalities.

Globally, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the hottest years on record, trailing behind 2024 and 2025, climate data indicates. However, with the influence of human-induced global warming and a significant El Niño event, there is a growing possibility that 2026 might surpass 2024 as the hottest year yet, experts suggest.

Last month, global ocean temperatures reached an unprecedented level for July, as reported by Copernicus, largely due to emerging El Niño conditions. The average sea surface temperature for extra-polar oceans reached 20.96°C (69.73°F), surpassing the previous 2023 record of 20.89°C (69.60°F). However, the global average surface air temperature in July was 16.90°C (62.42°F), tying with July 2024 as the second warmest on record.

Western Europe broke its own temperature record for the June-July period, with an average temperature of 21.62°C (70.92°F), stated Copernicus. Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat in the region, exacerbating drought conditions. Samantha Burgess, climate strategic lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, noted that as soils dry, they lose cooling capabilities, allowing heat to accumulate more easily.

Burgess explained that this situation is a clear indication of how climate change is escalating heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly compounding each other.