Home / Environment / Europe's Hottest June Ever Fuels Crisis
Europe's Hottest June Ever Fuels Crisis
9 Jul
Summary
- Western Europe recorded its warmest June last month.
- The heatwave caused over 4,700 excess deaths.
- Global sea surface temperatures also hit record highs.
Western Europe endured its hottest June on record, confirmed by EU scientists, following an extreme heatwave that concluded the month. This period saw temperature records broken, alongside disruptions to power supplies and school closures. The average temperature in Western Europe last month surpassed 20.74 degrees Celsius, significantly exceeding the 1991-2020 average.
This extreme heat has dire consequences, with national authorities reporting over 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. The intense heat also fueled wildfires in Iberia and France, worsening existing drought conditions across the region.
Globally, last month was the second-warmest June, with sea surface temperatures reaching their highest point since records began. While a strong El Niño in the Pacific contributed to global sea temperatures, climate change was identified as the primary driver of the extreme heatwaves experienced in Europe.
