The world’s oceans recorded their highest average surface temperatures in July, with measurements outside polar regions reaching 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 20.89 degrees set in 2023. The Copernicus Climate Change Service attributed the warming partly to developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean, a natural weather pattern that, when combined with human-driven climate change, can intensify temperature increases and extreme weather events.
Western Europe faced exceptional heat during June and July, with average temperatures reaching 21.62 degrees Celsius—2.79 degrees above normal—marking the highest temperatures recorded for that two-month period. The region experienced multiple consecutive heatwaves, with persistent high-pressure systems trapping heat while dry soil conditions reduced natural cooling effects. France, Spain, parts of Germany, and the United Kingdom recorded exceptionally low rainfall and soil moisture levels, lower than during the severe drought of 2022.
The prolonged hot and dry conditions created ideal circumstances for wildfires, with massive fires burning across Western Europe and generating exceptional levels of smoke and emissions. Lower-than-average river levels in major waterways including the Seine, Rhine, and Danube have strained water supplies, irrigation systems, and aquatic ecosystems. In the UK, England and Wales recorded their driest July in 190 years of record-keeping, prompting water authorities to declare large portions in drought with warnings that additional areas may follow if dry weather continues.
Ocean warming carries multiple consequences for the environment and human populations. Rising sea temperatures cause thermal expansion of water, accounting for roughly one-third of sea level rise affecting low-lying coastal areas and island nations. Warmer oceans are also driving intensified marine heatwaves that have caused mass coral bleaching and damaged kelp forests and fisheries globally.
Climate scientists note that record-breaking temperatures once considered extreme weather are becoming increasingly common. The world has warmed approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century, with projections suggesting El Niño effects may push temperatures even higher in coming months against the backdrop of ongoing greenhouse gas emissions.
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