June 2026 was second warmest globally and hottest on record in Western Europe
Nature does not negotiate — it simply records our actions through temperatures, droughts and heatwaves. June 2026 became yet another alarming signal: Western Europe experienced its hottest month on record, while global temperatures continue to break records, reminding us that the climate crisis is not a distant threat but our everyday reality. When average temperatures exceed the norm by three degrees, it is no longer an anomaly but a new normal to which humanity must adapt.
According to data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, June 2026 was the second warmest June globally and the hottest on record in Western Europe. The report states that the month saw record breaking heatwaves across Western Europe, with an average temperature of 20.74°C — more than 3°C above the 1991–2020 average and surpassing the previous record set in June 2025.
Copernicus noted that the late June heatwave followed just weeks after an intense period in May, with yet another heatwave beginning in early July. The June heat broke monthly and all time records in several countries and contributed to a rise in heat related deaths, highlighting the growing frequency and severity of extreme heat episodes.
Globally, June 2026 was the second warmest June on record, with an average surface air temperature of 16.54°C — 0.56°C above the 1991–2020 average for the month and second only to June 2024. The global average sea surface temperature between 60°S and 60°N reached 20.86°C in June, the highest on record for the month. This figure is 0.01°C above the previous June record set in 2024, partly reflecting the development of strong El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Samantha Burgess, Director of Climate Strategy at the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts, said that June 2026 highlighted the continued accumulation of heat in the climate system. The record warm weather in Western Europe and persistently high ocean temperatures intensified heatwaves and further warmed the oceans, increasing risks to people, ecosystems and infrastructure.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service is one of the world's leading climate monitoring organisations, using satellite data and ground based observations to track changes in temperature, precipitation and other climate indicators. The June 2026 data confirms the long term trend of global warming linked to greenhouse gas emissions. Experts warn that extreme heat will become more frequent unless emissions are reduced.
As CCTV+ reports. Of particular concern is the rise in ocean temperatures, which affects marine ecosystems and intensifies the destructive power of hurricanes and other natural disasters.
