• Western Europe records hottest June on record as heatwave drives widespread temperature extremes

    Western Europe recorded its warmest June on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 20.74°C (69.3°F), 3.06°C (5.51°F) above the 1991–2020 average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The record-breaking month coincided with widespread heatwaves across western and central Europe that set national and local temperature records, while June ranked as the second-warmest globally in the ERA5 dataset.

  • Record-breaking heatwave triggers rare alerts and emergencies across Europe

    Multiple countries across Europe established new June temperature records this week as an exceptional heatwave continued to intensify, pushing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) across large parts of the continent. In France, authorities said at least 55 people had drowned while attempting to cool off during the prolonged heatwave, as hospitals, emergency services, and governments struggled to respond to its escalating impacts, while Spain reported at least 212 heat-related fatalities from June 21 to 24.

  • Extreme heat spreads across Europe as WMO warns of expanding impacts on millions

    Extreme heat continued to spread across Europe on June 24, 2026, prompting widespread red alerts and health warnings across Europe. The prolonged heatwave driven by a strong upper-level ridge is affecting much of Western, Central, and Southern Europe, with temperatures forecast to remain 3 to 10°C (5.4 to 18°F) above seasonal averages and locally exceed 40°C (104°F) through the end of June.

  • Meteorite damages homes in Koblenz, Germany after bright fireball

    A bright fireball crossed the sky over western Europe at 17:55 UTC (18:55 local time) on March 8, 2026, producing meteorites that struck residential buildings in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Several fragments penetrated roofs in the city’s Güls district and damaged houses, while meteorites were recovered shortly after the event. No injuries were reported.