July 2026 Was the Joint Second-Warmest July on Record: WMO and Copernicus Confirm Extreme Heat, Drought, and Flooding

France, Spain, and regions home to 900 million people saw record heat

France recorded its warmest July on record, alongside Spain and regions of the Sahel and Central America . According to an AFP analysis of Copernicus data, areas home to roughly 900 million people experienced their hottest July ever, and 33 countries set national July temperature records .

Sea-surface temperature records

Global sea-surface temperatures outside the polar regions were the highest ever recorded for July, reaching an average of 20.96°C. This was partly fueled by developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific . Severe marine heatwaves affected the Atlantic coast and the western Mediterranean .

Extreme wildfires

Prolonged hot and dry conditions fueled exceptional wildfires across western Europe — driven by heat, drought, and exceptionally low soil moisture — as well as in parts of North America .

Severe drought on major European rivers

Prolonged drought drove the Seine, Rhine, and Danube rivers to critically low levels. The Rhine at the key Kaub gauge dropped below its previous record low set in 2018, forcing cargo vessels to reduce their loads and driving up freight costs . The Netherlands declared an "actual water shortage" as the Rhine's discharge at Lobith fell to its lowest ever recorded level, just 615 m³/s .

Heavy monsoon rainfall and flooding

While Europe baked, heavy monsoon rainfall struck West Africa and South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and parts of Southeast Asia. Flash floods and landslides caused dozens of fatalities across these regions .

WMO's core warning: extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense

WMO Climate Information Head John Kennedy said the extreme heat results from the combined effect of long-term warming with a persistent pattern of alternating high- and low-pressure systems stretching across the Northern Hemisphere .

The WMO warned that extreme heat is becoming more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting, and underscored the urgent need for reliable forecasts and early warnings to limit cascading impacts on society and economies .