June sets new heat record in Western Europe

Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, according to new data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The UK broke its June temperature record three days in a row, while France logged its highest June temperature at 43.8°C in Pulluau, the World Meteorological Organization reported. Germany, Denmark, and Poland also registered all-time highs for the month.

Sverker Hellström, a climatologist at Sweden’s SMHI, said the heat has deepened drought conditions across the continent. With wildfires already reported this year, he warned of a high risk of further outbreaks.

“Unfortunately, it’s likely we’ll see fires on a fairly large scale,” Hellström said.

He added that while the record month itself is not exceptional in the context of climate change, the increasing frequency of such extreme heat events is notable. A developing El Niño could push temperatures even higher next year, he said.

Earlier, SVT reported that June did not set a record for Europe as a whole, a measurement that covers the entire continent rather than just Western Europe.