Key points
- Western Europe had its hottest June-July period.
- Arctic and Antarctic sea ice remained exceptionally low.
- Drought and wildfires hit large parts of Europe.
ISLAMABAD: The exceptional ocean warmth was partly linked to the development of El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, according to Copernicus’ monthly climate summary for July 2026.
July was the joint-second warmest month globally, tying with July 2024. The latest figures extend a period of unusually high global temperatures and come amid growing signs of significant climate extremes across several regions.
Western Europe experienced its warmest June-July period on record. Much of western Europe, along with large areas of central and eastern Europe, was also drier than average in July, with extreme temperatures and exceptional wildfires contributing to the unusually dry conditions.
ALSOREAD: Ocean Temperatures Near Record Highs as El Niño Threat Grows
River flows were much below average to extremely low across many of the affected European regions, with consequences for multiple sectors.
Outside Europe, drier-than-average conditions were recorded in parts of northern Canada, the central United States, the Maghreb, the Horn of Africa, Siberia, south-central Asia, parts of inner China, and areas of Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.
Plar regions of the Ocean
Polar regions also recorded unusually low sea ice. Arctic sea ice extent ranked sixth lowest for July, with particularly low coverage in the northern Barents Sea around Svalbard and Franz Josef Land.
Antarctic sea ice extent ranked fifth lowest for July, with below-average coverage across most ocean sectors except the Amundsen Sea.
The record ocean temperatures are significant because the oceans absorb much of the excess heat associated with global warming and play a major role in regulating the climate. El Niño can amplify or alter these effects by influencing atmospheric circulation and weather patterns across the globe.
The latest Copernicus assessment highlights a month in which record ocean warmth coincided with extreme heat, drought, wildfires and unusually low sea-ice levels in both polar regions.
