June 2026 was world’s second-hottest ever, Western Europe records hottest June: Copernicus

June 2026 was the second-warmest June ever recorded globally and the hottest June on record in Western Europe, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

The month also saw record-high global sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions and Western Europe’s most intense June heatwave on record, underscoring the growing impact of climate change.

Near-record global temperatures

The global average surface air temperature in June stood at 16.54°C, making it 0.56°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average and 1.39°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900).

Sea surface temperatures across extra-polar oceans (60°S–60°N) averaged 20.86°C, edging past the previous June record set in 2024 by 0.01°C.

According to C3S, the prolonged heatwave shattered monthly and all-time temperature records across several European countries and contributed to severe 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’s hottest June

Western Europe recorded its warmest June since records began, with an average temperature of 20.74°C—3.05°C above the 1991–2020 average and higher than the previous record set in June 2025.

Much of continental Western Europe, Italy, large parts of central and eastern Europe, and southern Britain experienced below-average rainfall, leading to reduced river flows and worsening drought conditions.

The combination of extreme heat and prolonged dryness fuelled major wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula and southern France while increasing drought risks across eastern Europe. Dry soil conditions that began developing in May were further intensified by the June heatwave.

Global impacts

Beyond Europe, drier-than-normal conditions were also recorded across parts of the United States, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia, according to Copernicus.

Commenting on the findings, Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at ECMWF, said June 2026 highlighted how rapidly the climate system is warming.

“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 warned that the continued warming is driving more intense heatwaves, persistently warmer oceans and increasing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure worldwide.