Key facts
- July marked the hottest recorded month for global sea surface temperatures.
- Developing El Niño conditions and human-driven global warming contributed to the record heat.
- Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, fueling widespread wildfires.
- Record high sea temperatures were observed along Europe's Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean.
- England and Wales recorded their driest July in 190 years, with parts of England and all of Wales declared in drought.
The world's oceans recorded their hottest July on record, scientists reported, coinciding with devastating heatwaves across western Europe. The EU's Copernicus climate change service confirmed record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, contributing to severe marine heatwaves.
Globally, the average sea surface temperature outside polar regions surpassed previous July records, with July 2023 holding the previous high. Developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific are forecast to strengthen, potentially further increasing global temperatures.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, with exceptional heat fueling wildfires across the Mediterranean. Data indicates the first two summer months were significantly hotter than average, reflecting a persistent heatwave driven by high-pressure systems and dry soils.
Central Europe is also grappling with extreme temperatures, leading to dried vegetation and increased wildfire risk. Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist, described the summer as a clear example of climate breakdown intensifying heat extremes. France, Spain, Germany, and the UK recorded exceptionally low rainfall and soil moisture, impacting river levels and water supplies.
England and Wales experienced their driest July in 190 years, with drought conditions declared in many areas. The Met Office noted that weather once considered extreme is becoming the 'new normal', with the hottest day of the year in southern England now significantly warmer than in the late 20th century.