Western Europe records hottest June-July period ever

Western Europe just lived through its hottest June-July period on record, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. The new average temperature beat the previous high set in 2022, as relentless heat waves baked the region from May through July. The extreme conditions have triggered large wildfires, deepened droughts and forced several countries to set new national temperature records. Health officials now warn the heat could lead to thousands of heat-related deaths across the continent this summer.

The surge in temperatures follows a global pattern of rising extremes. So far this year, Earth’s overall climate data shows it is the third-warmest period ever recorded—trailing only the record-breaking years of 2024 and 2025. Scientists say the accelerating heat in Western Europe is consistent with climate projections for a warming planet, where heat waves become more frequent and intense. Europe’s earlier records were set in 2003 and 2022, both deadly summers that reshaped public health policies and emergency response plans across the continent.

Across the region, the consequences are visible and severe. Portugal and Spain have battled months of wildfires, with thousands of hectares burned and hundreds of people evacuated. France, Italy and Greece have recorded new all-time highs, with some towns exceeding 45°C. Agricultural drought has damaged crops in Germany and the UK, while rivers like the Rhine and Loire have dropped to critically low levels, disrupting shipping and hydropower generation. Public health agencies in France estimate over 11,000 heat-related deaths occurred during the 2022 heat wave; early projections suggest similar or higher tolls this year without effective mitigation.

The new records underscore the urgency of climate adaptation. Governments are under pressure to expand cooling centers, issue earlier heat warnings and protect vulnerable populations. Scientists warn that without rapid emissions reductions, such summers will become the norm within decades. This isn’t just about breaking records—it’s about a continent learning to live with a climate that’s already changing faster than most expected.