In June and July, Western Europe experienced record-breaking heat, with average temperatures reaching their highest levels ever recorded for these two summer months. According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service based in Bonn, the region, covering parts of Austria among others, had an average temperature of 21.62 degrees Celsius during this period. This figure was 2.79 degrees above the long-term average for June from 1991 to 2020. The service highlighted a pronounced temperature gradient, with Western Europe significantly warmer than Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, which remained considerably cooler. Many areas within Western Europe saw average temperatures well above 21.62 degrees Celsius. For all of Europe, last month ranked as the eleventh warmest July, with an average temperature of 20.49 degrees Celsius. Globally, July was the second-warmest on record, alongside 2024, with an average temperature of approximately 16.90 degrees Celsius. The warmest July remains that of 2023, which reached 16.95 degrees Celsius. On a global scale, the average temperature for July was 1.47 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial level for the same month. The Copernicus service emphasized the prolonged heatwave conditions in Western Europe since late spring. Since May, four distinct heatwaves have been recorded in the region, a number described as exceptional for the area. Data used by Copernicus dates back to 1950, with some records available even earlier. Extreme drought conditions continued to affect many regions across Europe. Similar to June and part of May, July was drier than average in several areas, particularly affecting parts of the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. Soil moisture levels in Western Europe were notably lower compared to the previous dry July of 2022. Samantha Burgess, strategic director for climate at Copernicus, explained that as soils dry out, they lose their ability to cool naturally, allowing heat to accumulate more easily. She noted that this illustrates how climate change intensifies heat extremes, with heat and drought reinforcing each other increasingly. River water levels in large parts of the affected dry regions were significantly below the long-term average, reaching unusually low levels in certain locations. The Seine, Rhine, and Danube rivers were particularly impacted. Meanwhile, ocean surface temperatures around the world reached new highs in July, according to the data. The average sea surface temperature was 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 20.89 degrees Celsius set in July 2023. Copernicus pointed to high temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean due to the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to strengthen over the coming months. Along the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, water temperatures hit record highs, accompanied by intense marine heatwaves. The Copernicus Climate Change Service regularly releases data on surface temperatures, sea ice coverage, and precipitation. These insights are derived from computer-generated analyses incorporating billions of measurements collected by satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations worldwide.
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