Copernicus: June 2026 Ranked World’s Second-Hottest, Western Europe Hits Record Heat

June 2026 became the world’s second-warmest June on record and the hottest June ever recorded.

In Western Europe, according to the latest data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), run by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

The report also highlighted record-breaking sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions and Western Europe’s most severe June heatwave on record, reinforcing concerns over the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Global temperatures remain near record highs

The global average surface air temperature in June 2026 was 16.54°C, making it 0.56°C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.39°C warmer than pre-industrial levels (1850–1900). It ranked as the second-warmest June ever recorded, behind only June 2024.

Meanwhile, the average sea surface temperature across extra-polar oceans (60°S–60°N) reached 20.86°C, surpassing the previous June record set in 2024 by 0.01°C.

Copernicus said the prolonged heatwave broke both monthly and all-time temperature records in several European countries and contributed to significant health impacts, including heat-related deaths. “The succession of heatwaves illustrates the growing challenge posed by increasingly frequent and intense heat extremes across Europe and the globe,” the agency said.

Western Europe sees hottest June ever

Western Europe experienced its warmest June since records began, with an average temperature of 20.74°C—3.05°C above the 1991–2020 average and exceeding the previous June record set in 2025. Large parts of continental Western Europe, Italy, central and eastern Europe, and southern Britain received below-average rainfall, resulting in lower river flows and worsening drought conditions.

The combination of prolonged heat and dry weather fuelled major wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula and southern France, while drought conditions intensified across eastern Europe. Dry soils that had begun developing in May deteriorated further during the June heatwave.

Climate impacts extend beyond Europe

The report also noted drier-than-normal conditions across parts of the United States, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia. Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at ECMWF, said the findings reflect the continued build-up of heat in the Earth’s climate system.

“Western Europe recorded its warmest June on record, alongside continued record warmth in the global ocean. Together, these records reflect a climate system continuing to accumulate heat,” she said. Burgess added that rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, warming the oceans and heightening risks for people, ecosystems and critical infrastructure across the world.