Copernicus: Summer 2026 was recorded as the hottest summer in Western Europe

The European Union's (EU) Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) published its assessment for the summer of 2026.

Accordingly, the June-August period was the third hottest summer on record across Europe and the hottest summer in Western Europe.

Summer-like weather began unusually early in some parts of the continent

The 2026 summer period in Europe will be defined by extreme heat waves and dry conditions, with the first major heat wave affecting a large part of Western Europe in late May and exceptionally hot weather conditions continuing throughout the summer.

The proportion of land areas exposed to very strong heat stress in Europe this summer reached 52 percent, breaking a record.

Very strong heat stress, which refers to an increase in felt temperature to 38 degrees or above, increased serious health risks, including heat stroke.