Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record in 2025, with average temperatures reaching 20.49°C, driven by two intense back-to-back heatwaves, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Several countries, including Spain and Portugal, saw temperatures soar above 40°C, with peaks reaching 46°C. The heatwaves caused widespread heat stress, drought conditions, and heightened wildfire risks across the region.
Globally, June 2025 ranked as the third warmest June on record, following 2024 and 2023, reflecting a continuing trend of rising temperatures linked to human-induced climate change. Europe is warming several times faster than the global average, intensifying the impact of extreme heat events. Record sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean further exacerbated the heatwaves.
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus, described the heatwaves’ impact as “exceptional” and warned that such extreme heat events are likely to become more frequent and severe in the future. The unprecedented early-summer heat forced millions across the continent to endure dangerous heat stress, with some regions experiencing prolonged tropical nights where temperatures did not fall below 20°C.
The record-breaking heat in Western Europe underscores the urgent need for climate action to mitigate the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in a warming world.