Western Europe just had its hottest June on record, scientists say, as the UK enters its third heatwave of the year and wildfires tear through France and Spain.
The deadly June heatwave, made worse by carbon pollution, pushed surface air temperatures in the region 3.06°C above the average for recent decades, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate monitoring service.
[Image: Smoke rising from a wildfire in Pouzols-Minervois, southwestern France. Photo: Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP/Getty Images]
Globally, June 2026 was 0.56°C hotter than the 1991-2020 average and 1.39°C hotter than preindustrial levels, making it the second-warmest June on record, the agency found. The world’s oceans were hotter than scientists had ever seen them.
“Together, these records show a climate system that keeps building up heat,” said Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist at Copernicus. “The result is more intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure.”
[Chart: June temperatures]
Western Europe is now facing its third heatwave in six weeks, and widespread dryness is turning small wildfires into uncontrollable blazes. Copernicus said the string of heatwaves highlights “the growing challenge” of worsening extreme heat.
In recent days, massive fires have destroyed large areas of southern Europe, pushing the EU to send firefighters and water-dropping planes to help national services overwhelmed by multiple blazes at once. Data released Tuesday shows EU wildfires have burned 56% more land than usual.
The area burned in France is four times larger than the average for this time of year, with 35,400 hectares (87,474 acres) destroyed. In Spain, it’s double the average, with 55,128 hectares (136,224 acres) burned, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
[Chart: France wildfires]
[Chart: Spain wildfires]
Barcelona set a new heat record on Wednesday with temperatures hitting 40.5°C, Spanish meteorologists said. In France, a 22-year-old firefighter died after battling a blaze in the Alps, the French interior ministry reported.
In the UK, where Met Office scientists warned on Wednesday that seas are facing an “extreme” marine heatwave, daytime temperatures on land are expected to reach highs of 34°C on Thursday. While not as scorching as June’s record-breaking heat, the high temperatures are expected to last through a sweltering 10 days.
The Met Office said a key feature of last month’s heatwave was “exceptionally warm” overnight temperatures, with frequent tropical nights helping to drive the highest average June minimums on record. On Tuesday, a poll found this led to “mass sleep deprivation,” with two in three people struggling to sleep.
“To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering,” said Stephen Belcher, chief scientist of the Met Office. “Events like this really show the impact of climate change.”
[Image: A climate protest outside the Houses of Parliament on 2 July. Photo: Guy Bell/Shutterstock]
The UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) warned people on Wednesday to take extra care outdoors as the heatwave raises the risk of fast-spreading wildfires. Fire services have responded to several wildfires across southern and eastern England in recent weeks.
“Most wildfires start because something provides the spark: a disposable barbecue left behind, a discarded cigarette, or even a glass bottle left in the sunshine,” said Dave Swallow, a tactical adviser at the NFCC. “We all have a role to play in preventing them.”
Heatwaves have grown hotter and stronger as fossil fuel pollution and the destruction of nature have warmed the planet. Scientists are urging a quick shift to a clean economy.The economy also needs to adapt to increasingly severe weather extremes. The World Health Organization estimates that 200,000 people have died from heat in Europe over the past four years, and says most of these deaths are “entirely preventable.” To save lives, experts recommend installing air conditioning for vulnerable groups, shading buildings with awnings and external shutters, setting up cooling centers, and strengthening health systems.
Shade from urban trees can keep neighborhoods significantly cooler in hot weather, but new analysis shows the UK is far behind other European countries. According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), the average UK urban area has only 18% tree cover, compared to a European city average of about 30%. Out of 47 UK cities and urban areas in the data, 45 fall below the European average.
London has average tree cover for the UK at 18%, with Burnley the least green at 11% and Guildford the most shaded at 37%. In comparison, Barcelona has 31% tree cover and Nice has 39%. Based on 2018 data, the UK ranked 31st out of 38 countries overall.
Previous UK research shows that the lowest levels of tree shade are found in the most deprived neighborhoods, and that areas with more tree cover were up to 4°C cooler during a heatwave.
“Planting trees can over time help lower temperatures in the buildings they shade, and give more vulnerable people hope of being able to leave their homes into less risky temperatures to do things like shop and visit the GP,” said Tom Cantillon, an analyst at the ECIU. “The UK is way behind.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the recordbreaking June heat in Western Europe written in a natural tone with clear simple answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Is it true that Western Europe just had its hottest June ever
Yes Scientists confirmed that June 2024 was the hottest June on record for the region breaking the previous records set in recent years
2 How hot did it actually get
Temperatures in many areas like France Spain and Germany regularly climbed above 35C Some places hit 40C or higher which is extremely unusual for June
3 Why is this happening
Its mainly due to climate change The burning of fossil fuels traps heat in the atmosphere making heatwaves more frequent longer and more intense A natural weather pattern also helped pull hot air up from North Africa
4 Is this just a onetime freak event
No While any single month can be an outlier this fits a clear trend The last decade has seen a sharp rise in recordbreaking heat across Europe Scientists say this is the new normal
5 Whats the difference between a heatwave and a normal hot day
A heatwave is a prolonged period of unusually hot weather often lasting several days and nights A normal hot day is just one day Heatwaves are dangerous because the body doesnt get a chance to cool down at night
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 How does this June record compare to the historic 2003 heatwave
The 2003 heatwave was more deadly and intense in its peak but the average temperature for the entire month of June 2024 was higher This means the heat was more persistent and widespread rather than a short extreme spike
7 Are heatwaves in Europe becoming more intense and longer
Yes Studies show that heatwaves in Europe are now occurring roughly three to four times more often than they did a century ago They are also lasting longeran average of several days more than in the pastand reaching higher peak temperatures
8 What role does the heat dome phenomenon play
A heat dome is a highpressure system that traps hot air in one place like a lid on a pot This June a strong heat dome stalled over Western Europe preventing
