Western Europe skilled its hottest June on document this yr, with temperatures reaching unprecedented ranges in a number of nations resulting from a chronic warmth wave.
The consequences prolonged past discomfort, placing stress on well being programs and damaging crops.
These 4 numbers assist point out the size of the heatwave throughout the area.
20.74: Common temperature
Western Europe recorded its hottest June since data started, with a mean temperature of 20.74 levels Celsius, in response to the EU’s Copernicus Local weather Change Service.
This common temperature was 3.06 levels greater than the typical June temperature from 1991 to 2020, and surpassed the earlier document set in June 2025.
Throughout Europe, June was the second warmest June on document, with the UK and France recording their warmest Junes on document. For Germany, it was the second warmest month on document, breaking all-time data for optimum temperatures throughout the nation.
10,000: Dying resulting from extreme warmth
Greater than 10,000 extra deaths had been recorded throughout the late June heatwave, in response to information from the European mortality monitoring company EuroMOMO.
Greater than 9,000 of those deaths had been amongst individuals aged 65 and over, with France alone recording at the least 5,764 extra deaths.
France’s Nationwide Public Well being Company mentioned the dying toll was 36% greater than anticipated, marking the very best dying fee because the 2003 heatwave.
France’s warmth preparedness has come below elevated scrutiny as a result of excessive dying toll since sweeping reforms in 2003, however critics say it’s not doing sufficient to guard individuals from the worst results of the heatwave.
In late June, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorne convened a authorities disaster council to evaluate how the nation might put together for future heatwaves.
2 billion euros: grain harvest anticipated to undergo
Evaluation by the unbiased nonprofit Power and Local weather Intelligence Unit (ECIU) estimates that June’s heatwave might cut back Europe’s grain harvest by round €2 billion.
France and Hungary accounted for nearly three-quarters of the estimated losses, with France’s grain harvest revised down by 4.1 million tonnes, or the equal of round €891 million, as intense warmth hit wheat and maize crops within the early rising season.
Hungary was additionally affected, with an estimated lack of 2.4 million tonnes of grain price €444 million.
ECIU analyst Tom Lancaster mentioned the heatwave “comes at a daunting time for Europe’s grain farmers, devastating crop development and lowering yields throughout the continent.”
“It will hit farmers’ pockets, cut back their incomes and on the identical time undermine Europe’s meals safety,” he mentioned.
The ECIU mentioned the losses are prone to make Europe extra depending on imports, and that international commodity costs might rise relying on the Southern Hemisphere’s harvest later this yr.
3: Variety of warmth waves over a number of months
Scientists warn that June’s heatwave isn’t an remoted occasion.
The Copernicus Local weather Change Company recorded a large warmth wave throughout the West in Might, June and early July, with document sea floor temperatures including to the acute circumstances.
A brand new heatwave is anticipated to hit Europe this week, with hearth warnings in place for elements of southwestern France and northern Spain, in response to the European Forest Fireplace Info System. Temperatures are additionally anticipated to rise within the UK and Portugal.
Current excessive temperatures have sparked wildfires throughout France and Spain, notably exterior the Spanish capital Madrid, with authorities warning that the area is experiencing among the worst blazes it has ever seen.
Europe is the world’s warmest continent, with temperatures rising at about twice the worldwide common, in response to the State of Europe’s Local weather 2025 report.
The report warned that because the local weather continues to heat, warmth waves are anticipated to develop into extra frequent and intense, occurring within the second half of the yr to the primary half of the yr.
