Globally, last month was the second-hottest June ever recorded.
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Western Europe just endured its hottest June ever recorded owing to a record-breaking heatwave that afflicted much of the region during the latter part of the month, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The strongest-ever heatwave to hit the region was the second in less than a month. Scientists said such a heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” just 40 years ago and chances of it occurring at this time of year in 2003, the year Europe was hit by its first major heatwave of this century, would have been “tens to hundreds times” lower. It was followed by another heatwave in early July.
Virtually every heatwave in the world is now made stronger and more likely to happen because of human-caused climate change, posing growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure.
The extreme heat, combined with widespread dryness, led to significant wildfire activity across the continent and particularly in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France, Copernicus also said. Last year, Europe saw its worst wildfire season on record.
Globally, last month was the second-warmest June. Near-record temperatures were driven by exceptionally high sea surface temperatures. Global sea surface temperatures hit 21C on June 21, exceeding the record levels for the time of the year observed in 2023 (20.83C) and 2024 (20.86C).
The new peak – which coincides with the earliest phases of an El Niño event that is forecast to be the strongest in decades – would probably bring “consequences for weather patterns, global climate and marine ecosystems,” Copernicus warned earlier this month.
El Niño, a global climatic phenomenon which occurs every two to seven years on average, is associated with the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. When this happens, the east-to-west trade winds die, keeping warmer than the normal air in the eastern and central parts of the tropical Pacific, which temporarily raises global average temperatures. When combined with long-term human-caused climate change, these weather patterns frequently push global temperatures to record-breaking highs.
The powerful shifts in Pacific winds and water temperatures can also transform global weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of severe droughts in places like Australia, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia and heavy floods in parts of the southern US, South America, the Horn of Africa and central Asia.
The past two such events – in 2014-16 and 2023-24 – brought record heat around the world that fueled further global temperature increase. 2024 went down as the hottest year on record due to a combination of long-term human-caused climate change and a strong El Niño weather pattern. Now, its return increases the chances of another record warm year – likely to be 2027.
Silent Killer
Heat is often referred to as a “silent killer” and it has quickly become the deadliest extreme weather event in many parts of the world.
In Europe – the world’s fastest-warming continent – heat-related mortality has already increased by around 30% in the past two decades, coinciding with a rise in the average temperature. A study attributed nearly 48,000 deaths in the continent in 2023 to extreme heat. Over just the past four years, heat has claimed over 200,000 lives across EU countries, with last month’s heatwave claiming more than 1,300 excess deaths in just a week, according to World Health Organization’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Featured image: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery.
💡How to stay safe in extreme heat
- 💧Stay hydrated: Drink around two liters of water per day, or about eight glasses. In heat conditions, experts recommend drinking throughout the day and urinating around six to seven times a day, or every two to three hours.
- 🍉Eat nutritious food: Stick to hydrating, fresh food such as watermelon, peaches, berries, grapes, and oranges, vegetables that can be juiced, as well as liquid meals such as soups. Avoid spicy foods, known to make the body sweat. Avoid cooking at home, and opt for the microwave instead of the oven if you have to.
- 💦Exercise responsibly: If you exercise outdoors, take breaks in the shade or indoors to allow your body to cool down faster. Wear sensible attire, such as lightweight, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen, bamboo, polyester, nylon and microfiber. Hydrate well before a workout and drinking throughout every 15-20 minutes, especially when the physical activity lasts longer than an hour.
- 🌡️Follow local weather services: Check local meteorological services or news channels regularly, as they provide real-time updates and alerts about heat advisories and warnings. Local governments and emergency management agencies often post timely updates on social media platforms as well so keep them monitored.
- 📱Use weather apps: Download reputable weather apps that provide notifications about extreme heat conditions. Many of these apps allow users to set alerts for specific weather events in their area.
- ❗Sign up for emergency alerts: Many cities have rolled out local emergency notification systems or community alert programs that citizens can easily enroll in. These services often send text or email alerts directly to residents during extreme weather events, including heatwaves.
For more tips, check out our article on this topic. To learn more about the risks of extreme heat and how the world is adapting, you can read our 3-part series on extreme heat.
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