Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Globally, June 2026 was the second-warmest June ever recorded.
According to C3S analysis, the global average land surface temperature in June reached 16.54°C, which is 0.56°C above the 1991–2020 average. Last month’s temperature was also 1.39°C higher than the pre-industrial average recorded between 1850 and 1900.
As a result, June 2026 became the second-hottest June on record worldwide, with the warmest June having occurred in 2024.
June 2026 also set a new record for global sea surface temperatures, which averaged 20.86°C, the highest level ever recorded.
Europe Sees Record-Breaking Heat
Temperatures across Europe also remained exceptionally high. The average land surface temperature in June 2026 reached 19.14°C, 1.78°C above the 1991–2020 June average. It was the second-hottest June ever recorded across the continent.
Western Europe, which was hit by an intense heatwave, experienced its hottest June on record.
The region’s average land surface temperature reached 20.74°C, 3.05°C above the 1991–2020 June average, surpassing the previous June record set in 2025.
Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at C3S, said the temperatures recorded in June 2026 demonstrate that the climate is undergoing profound change.
“While Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, record-high ocean temperatures also persisted around the world. These records show that the climate system continues to accumulate heat. As a result, more intense heatwaves, persistently warmer oceans, and increasing risks for people, ecosystems, and infrastructure are emerging across Europe and many other parts of the world.”