- June and July 2026 were the hottest on record in Western Europe, according to a monitor.
- France and Spain registered record drought levels, fueling devastating wildfires, including a megafire in Gironde, France, that burned nearly 42,000 hectares and forced over 220,000 evacuations, and Spain’s largest wildfire in recent history scorching almost 44,000 hectares in Avila.
- C3S recorded the highest sea surface temperatures outside polar regions in July, averaging 20.96°C (69.7°F), slightly higher than the previous record of 20.89°C (69.6°F) in 2023.
- The report warned that large fires can send smoke high into the atmosphere, traveling thousands of kilometers and affecting air quality elsewhere.
June and July 2023 marked the hottest months on record in Western Europe, with average temperatures soaring to 21.62°C (70.9°F), surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by 2.79°C (5.01°F), according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
This unprecedented heat has led to significantly lower soil moisture levels compared to July 2022, intensifying drought conditions across the region. Samantha Burgess, a climate expert at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, noted that “persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over Western Europe,” amplifying drought and creating a feedback loop that exacerbates heat extremes.
The drought has severely impacted water supplies, with several rivers, including the Seine, Rhine, and Danube, experiencing exceptionally low water levels. This has forced Hungary and Slovenia to operate their nuclear power plants at reduced capacity.
In France, a megafire consumed nearly 42,000 hectares (103,785 acres) in the Gironde department, leading to the evacuation of over 220,000 people. Meanwhile, Spain faced its largest wildfire in recent history, scorching almost 44,000 hectares (108,725 acres) in Avila province near Madrid. The C3S also reported record sea surface temperatures, with an average of 20.96°C (69.7°F) recorded in July, further highlighting the climate crisis.56
“The heatwave drove a megafire in Gironde, France, that burned nearly 42,000 hectares and forced over 220,000 evacuations, while Spain's largest wildfire in recent history scorched almost 44,000 hectares in Avila. C3S also recorded the highest sea surface temperatures outside polar regions in July, averaging 20.96°C.”
