Western Europe breaks temperature records as world's oceans hit record-high July temperatures

Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record in 2026, marking the third consecutive month of exceptional heat across the region. Persistent high-pressure systems led to multiple heatwaves and widespread drought, significantly raising temperatures, particularly in countries like France, Spain, England, and Ireland. The prolonged dry conditions contributed to severe wildfires and critically low river levels across many parts of the continent.

Concurrently, global ocean surface temperatures reached an unprecedented high for July, averaging 20.96°C across the extra-polar oceans. This surpassed the previous July record set in 2023. Record high sea surface temperatures were specifically observed along the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, resulting in severe marine heatwaves.

These extreme conditions, partly fueled by the developing El Niño phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific, highlight an escalating climate crisis. Globally, July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the joint second warmest July on record for surface air temperatures, underscoring the broad impact of rising global temperatures.