Western Europe sees exceptional summer after fourth July heatwave

Western Europe is experiencing an exceptionally hot summer, with a fourth heatwave in July following two earlier heatwaves since May, Yle reported, citing the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The average temperature for June and July was the highest recorded, at 21.62 degrees Celsius. That was 2.79 degrees above normal and surpassed the previous record set in 2022.

Globally, July was the second-warmest month recorded, tied with July 2024. The warmest July was recorded in 2023. Sea surface temperatures worldwide also reached a record high.

Across Europe, July’s average temperature was 20.49 degrees, the 11th-highest on record. The relatively low ranking reflected a pronounced east-west contrast. Temperatures were well above average in Western Europe, particularly in France, Spain, England and Ireland, while much of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia was cooler than average.

Such an east-west contrast in summer weather is typical of El Niño years, said Mika Rantanen, a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, in a statement.

The prolonged heat and dryness also created favourable conditions for wildfires. Drought observed in much of Western Europe in May and June continued and intensified in July, with exceptionally low rainfall or soil moisture reported in France, Spain, parts of Germany and the United Kingdom.

River flows in drought-hit areas were significantly below normal or exceptionally low. The Seine, Rhine and Danube were particularly affected, disrupting water supply, irrigation and energy production.

In Finland, July’s average temperature was normal, according to Finnish Meteorological Institute statistics. Some parts of western Finland received exceptionally heavy rainfall.