Prolonged hot and dry conditions in Western Europe led to the spread and intensification of extreme wildfires in July 2026, with the month seeing the highest sea surface temperature ever recorded for July across the extra-polar oceans, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

The average sea surface temperature for the extra-polar ocean (60°S-60°N) reached 20.96°C in July, surpassing the previous July record of 20.89°C set in 2023. Developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific were a contributing factor, while record-high sea surface temperatures along the Atlantic and western Mediterranean drove widespread strong or severe marine heatwaves affecting coastal communities and ecosystems.

Globally, July was the joint second-warmest on record, with an average surface air temperature of 16.90°C – 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.47°C above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) baseline.

Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, at 21.62°C, 2.79°C above average and surpassing the previous record set in 2022. The region saw its third and fourth heatwaves since May. Widespread dryness from May and June persisted and intensified, with exceptionally low rainfall and soil moisture reported in France, Spain, parts of Germany and the UK. River flows were much lower than average across the Seine, Rhine and Danube, affecting water supply, irrigation and energy production.

“July 2026 was the third consecutive month of exceptional heat in Western Europe, bringing the combined temperature for June and July to a new record for the region,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF. “Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over Western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily.”

“Last month saw exceptional wildfire activity across Western Europe, in terms of the area burnt and emissions,” said Laurence Rouil, director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. “Climate change is increasingly bringing the kinds of hot and dry conditions that favor large, high-intensity wildfires in southern Europe while extending the fire season northward.”

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