The world’s oceans experienced their warmest July on record, according to monitoring by the EU’s climate service. The average sea surface temperature between 60 degrees north and south reached 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of 20.89 degrees set in 2023. This marks the joint second-warmest July globally recorded, with temperatures running 1.47 degrees Celsius above estimated pre-industrial levels. Ocean warming is being driven partly by developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, a natural weather pattern that can amplify temperature increases when combined with human-caused climate change.
Western Europe faced exceptional heat conditions during the period, recording its hottest June and July on record. The average temperature across the region for these two months reached 21.62 degrees Celsius, approximately 2.79 degrees above normal and the highest for any two-month span in records. Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over the region while dry soil conditions reduced natural cooling effects. France, Spain, parts of Germany and the UK all experienced unusually low rainfall and soil moisture levels.
The combination of heat and drought created ideal conditions for widespread wildfires across western Europe in July. Major fires produced significant smoke that traveled long distances through the atmosphere, affecting air quality across multiple countries. River levels dropped considerably below average across the continent, with major waterways including the Seine, Rhine and Danube among those particularly impacted. These low flows have strained water supplies, irrigation systems, aquatic ecosystems and energy production.
In the UK, the dry spell has intensified pressure on already-stressed water resources. England and Wales recorded their driest July in 190 years of record-keeping. Large portions of England and all of Wales have been officially declared in drought status, with authorities warning that additional areas could receive similar designations if dry conditions continue. Climate scientists note that weather patterns once considered extreme are becoming increasingly common, with the hottest annual day in southern England now averaging 4.5 degrees Celsius warmer than it was between 1961 and 1990.
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