Western Europe Experiences Unprecedented Heat Wave Temperatures
WHO:
AP News - The European climate agency Copernicus reported on the heat waves in Western Europe.
WHAT:
ABC News World - The average temperature record for the June-July period in Western Europe was previously set in 2022.
AP News - The year 2026 is currently the third-hottest year on record, following 2024 and 2025.
ABC News World - Western Europe set a new average temperature record for the June-July period.
AP News - The average temperature for the June-July period in Western Europe hit 21.62°C (70.92°F).
AP News - The extreme heat has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought, and thousands of projected heat-related deaths.
AP News - Last month recorded the highest average sea surface temperature for July across extra-polar oceans at 20.96°C (69.73°F), surpassing the 2023 record of 20.89°C (69.60°F).
AP News - The global average surface air temperature for last month was 16.90°C (62.42°F), making it the joint second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024.
WHERE:
AP News - The events are occurring in Western Europe.
WHEN:
AP News - The heat waves began in May.
AP News - The year 2026 is projected to potentially become the hottest year on record.
WHY:
AP News - The developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific are contributing to the extreme heat and record temperatures.
AP News - The extreme temperatures are attributed to accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Niño.
AP News - Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over Western Europe, amplifying widespread drought.
HOW:
AP News - As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
(UPDATED August 10, 2026 07:22 UTC)
The average temperature record for the June-July period in Western Europe, which was previously set in 2022, is now being challenged as 2026 becomes the third-hottest year on record, following 2024 and 2025. This extreme heat is largely attributed to developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific. As these weather patterns continue to evolve, the impact on global temperatures remains significant.
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(UPDATED August 10, 2026 04:25 UTC)
The European climate agency Copernicus has reported that Western Europe has set a new average temperature record for the June-July period, reaching 21.62°C, or 70.92°F. This extreme heat has led to major wildfires, prolonged drought, and thousands of projected heat-related deaths, with last month also recording the highest average sea surface temperature for July across extra-polar oceans at 20.96°C, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. Experts attribute these extreme temperatures to accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Niño, while persistent high-pressure systems have trapped heat over the region, exacerbating the drought conditions.