Western Europe just had its hottest June on record

Western Europe recorded its hottest June ever, according to a new report from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The report also says June 2026 was the second-warmest June globally.

The findings point to a major heatwave over the second half of the month, with multiple countries breaking both monthly and all-time temperature records. The report links the extreme conditions to persistently high sea surface temperatures and notes that overall heat continues to build in the climate system, making heatwaves more frequent, intense, and risky.

Alongside the temperature records, the heat fueled wildfires—especially in parts of France—and created serious health impacts. In Europe, health authorities recorded a high number of heat-related deaths during the period as temperatures stayed dangerously high, including at night.

The report also warns that the heat is expected to continue beyond June, with ongoing climate conditions raising the likelihood of further extreme weather through the summer.