The average sea surface temperature outside the polar regions in July 2026 was the highest ever recorded. The previous record for July was set in 2023. The Guardian reports this, according to UNN.
Details
According to the publication, record sea surface temperatures in July were recorded off the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean Sea. European seas also experienced severe marine heatwaves. Globally, the average sea surface temperature outside the polar regions exceeded the previous July maximum recorded in 2023.
The air temperature over land in July 2026 was just 0.01°C lower than in July 2024. By this measure, July 2026 was one of the two warmest Julys ever recorded.
According to the available data, Western Europe experienced its hottest June–July period ever recorded. This heat also caused wildfires in parts of the Mediterranean. The first two summer months of 2026 were 2.79°C warmer than usual.
Samantha Burgess, a climatologist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, called this summer a "striking example" of the intensification of extreme weather events.
"As persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over Western Europe, extreme temperatures also intensified the widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build up more quickly," the climatologist said.
Previously reported
Wildfires in Europe caused €3.1 billion in damage in just five eurozone countries. The actual losses may be significantly higher due to property damage and disruptions to tourism.