Bonn, 09/07/2026

Global temperature

  • June 2026 was the second-warmest June globally in the ERA5 dataset, with an average surface air temperature of 16.54°C, 0.56°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, behind June 2024.
  • June 2026 was 1.39°C above the estimated pre-industrial 1850-1900 average.

Sea surface temperature

  • The average SST for extra-polar oceans (60°S–60°N) in June 2026 was the highest on record for the month at 20.86°C, but only marginally higher (by 0.01°C) than June 2024.
  • SSTs remained at exceptionally high levels across a large portion of the tropical Pacific where El Niño conditions are present and forecast to strengthen rapidly in the coming months.

Europe

  • The average temperature over European land in June 2026 was the second-highest on record for the month, at 19.14°C, 1.78°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, behind June 2019.

  • During the second half of the month, an intense heatwave affected much of western and central Europe, with many June and some all-time records for daily maximum temperature being broken in several countries.

  • Western Europe, the region most affected by the heatwave, experienced its warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 20.74°C, 3.06°C above the 1991–2020 average for June, surpassing the previous record set in June 2025.

  • In June 2026, much of western continental Europe, including Italy, large parts of central and eastern Europe, and southern UK experienced drier-than-average conditions, associated with persistent high-pressure and heatwave conditions.

  • Dry conditions increased drought risk across parts of eastern Europe and contributed to wildfire activity, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula.

  • Consistent with the widespread drier-than-average conditions and extreme heat, river flow was below average across Europe, affecting large parts of France, much of central and eastern Europe, and parts of north-eastern Europe.

  • Conversely, Iceland, Ireland, much of the UK, the North Sea coast, Fennoscandia, the Baltic States, Greece, and a large region north of the Caspian Sea were wetter than average. In some areas, heavy precipitation led to localised flooding and associated impacts.

  • Above-average river flow occurred only in relatively limited areas in June, mainly in Ireland, northern parts of the UK, parts of southern Iberia, southern Greece, Türkiye, and parts of the Baltic States and Scandinavia.

  • The global extra-tropical regions that experienced wetter-than-average conditions included parts of North America, easternmost Asia, southern Africa and Australia, with flooding reported in several regions.

  • Drier-than average conditions were seen in parts of USA and Canada, parts of South America, the Middle East and Central Asia and Russia.

  • In the Arctic, monthly average sea ice extent in June was about 5% below average, ranking sixth-lowest for the month.

  • Regionally, the Arctic sea ice cover was below average in most marine sectors, particularly in the northern Barents Sea around Svalbard and Franz Josef Land.

  • In the Antarctic, monthly average sea ice extent in June was about 8% below average, ranking sixth lowest.

  • Sea ice cover was much below average in the Bellingshausen Sea, while it was above average in the Amundsen and eastern Ross Sea.

– End –

More information about climate variables in June 2026 and climate updates of previous months as well as high–resolution graphics can be downloadedhere.

  • Answers to frequently asked questions regarding temperature monitoring can be foundhere.
  • Follow near–real–time data for the globe on Climate Pulsehere.
  • More on trends and projections on Climate Atlashere.
  • Access key datasets easily with the new tool ERA Explorer Apphere.

Temperature and hydrological maps and data are from ECMWF Copernicus Climate Change Service’s ERA5 and ERA5–Land (surface soil moisture) datasets.

The findings about global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) presented here are based on SST data from ERA5 averaged over the 60°S–60°N domain. Note that ERA5 SSTs are estimates of the ocean temperature at about 10m depth (known as foundation temperature). The results may differ from other SST products providing temperature estimates at different depths.

Sea ice maps and data are from a combination of information from ERA5, as well as from the EUMETSAT OSI SAF Sea Ice Index v2.3.

Regional area averages quoted here are the following longitude/latitude bounds:

Globe, 180W–180E, 90S–90N, over land and ocean surfaces.

Europe, 25W–40E, 34N–72N, over land surfaces only.More information about the data can be foundhere.

Information on national records and impacts is based on national and regional reports. For details see the respective temperature and hydrologicalC3S climate bulletinfor the month.

C3S has followed the recommendation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to use the most recent 30–year period for calculating climatological averages and changed to the reference period of 1991–2020 for its C3S Climate Bulletins covering January 2021 onward.

More information on the reference period used can be foundhere.

More information on Copernicus:www.copernicus.eu

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Surface air temperature for June 2026

Hydrological variables for June 2026

Sea ice cover for June 2026