The average temperature in Western Europe last month was 20.74 degrees Celsius (69.3 degrees Fahrenheit), more than 3 C above the average for June during ?1991-2020, the data showed.

Copernicus defines the region as spreading from Spain and the United Kingdom eastwards as far as Italy, Germany and part of Austria. Western Europe has now suffered three intense heatwaves in as many months, with countries including Spain and Portugal in the grip of another this week.
"June 2026 underscored how profoundly the climate is changing," said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. "The result is increasingly intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.”

National authorities reported more than 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands during the June heatwave — with the total across other countries likely to be higher — ?while the intense heat also fuelled wildfires in Iberia and France and exacerbated drought conditions.
Greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from burning coal, oil and gas, have increased the planet's average temperature to around 1.4 C above pre-industrial times in the 19th century, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That higher baseline means temperatures can now hit higher peaks during heatwaves.
"The relationship between heatwaves and global ?warming is about as straightforward as it gets: on a hotter planet, there will be more heatwaves, and they will become more intense," said Joeri Rogelj, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.

National authorities reported more than 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands during the June heatwave — with the total across other countries likely to be higher — ?while the intense heat also fuelled wildfires in Iberia and France and exacerbated drought conditions.
Greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from burning coal, oil and gas, have increased the planet's average temperature to around 1.4 C above pre-industrial times in the 19th century, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That higher baseline means temperatures can now hit higher peaks during heatwaves.
"The relationship between heatwaves and global ?warming is about as straightforward as it gets: on a hotter planet, there will be more heatwaves, and they will become more intense," said Joeri Rogelj, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.

Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; Editing by Matthew Lewis
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