Europe swelters through record heat as drought and wildfires intensify

Western Europe has endured its hottest June-July period on record, with extreme heat, drought and wildfires gripping parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The WMO says the warming climate is making heatwaves more frequent, intense, longer and more widespread.

Western Europe recorded its hottest June-July period on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said July was also tied for the second-warmest July globally, with average surface air temperatures 1.47 degrees Celsius above the estimated pre-industrial level.

Sea-surface temperatures also reached their highest recorded level for July.

Heatwaves refuse to let up

Several Western European countries are experiencing their fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to climb further this week.

France is forecast to see temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius across large areas, while Switzerland has issued a Level 3 heat alert for temperatures exceeding 35 degrees.

Parts of southern England could reach 36 degrees Celsius by Thursday, according to the UK Met Office.

A warmer world

John Kennedy, head of Climate Information at the WMO, said the scale of today's heat is striking when compared with conditions five decades ago.

He pointed to June 1976, when atmospheric pressure patterns were similar to those seen this year.

But while isolated areas experienced above-average temperatures in a much cooler world in 1976, Kennedy said the situation has effectively been reversed in 2026.

“Extreme heat is becoming more frequent, more intense,” he said, adding that heat is also lasting longer and covering wider areas.

Drought and fires add to pressure

The persistent heat is worsening drought conditions across parts of Europe, affecting agriculture, river levels, transport and energy supplies.

Dry conditions are also increasing the risk of wildfires, with large areas of the Northern Hemisphere already battling fires.

The combination of extreme heat, prolonged dryness and high fire risk is placing additional pressure on emergency services and communities.

Smoke poses major health threat

The World Health Organization is warning that wildfire smoke presents a serious public health risk, particularly because of fine particulate matter.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with premature deaths and can cause or worsen diseases affecting the lungs, heart, brain and nervous system, as well as the skin, kidneys and eyes.

Firefighters and emergency workers face additional risks from burns, injuries and prolonged exposure to heavy smoke.

Children, older people, pregnant women and those living with chronic illnesses are among the most vulnerable.

Heat extremes becoming the new normal

The WMO says the current pattern reflects both long-term global warming and persistent high- and low-pressure systems.

For climate scientists, the contrast with the past is increasingly clear: extreme temperatures are no longer isolated events but part of a broader pattern of a warmer world.

As heatwaves continue to spread across Europe, authorities face growing pressure to protect populations from the combined threats of extreme heat, drought and wildfire smoke.