BRUSSELS (Lord Media): Global sea surface temperatures reached a new record in July, driven by developing El Niño conditions that further warmed the Pacific Ocean’s waters. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported on Monday that the average surface temperature of extra-polar oceans reached 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous July record of 20.89 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in the warm areas of the Pacific were exceptionally high, where El Niño conditions are present and expected to intensify in the coming months. Waters around Europe were also unusually warm, particularly in the Atlantic and the western Mediterranean, leading to severe marine heatwaves.
Globally, July 2024 was tied as the second warmest July on record, following 2023. The average surface air temperature was 16.90 degrees Celsius, 1.47 degrees above the pre-industrial average from 1850-1900.
Western Europe experienced the highest temperatures during June-July, with an average of 21.62 degrees Celsius, 2.79 degrees above the 1991-2020 average.
Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts noted that “July 2026 marked the third consecutive warmest month in Western Europe.” Persistent high-pressure systems exacerbated the heat, while dry soil reduced natural cooling.
Dry conditions from May and June persisted into July, resulting in reduced rainfall in France, Spain, Germany, and the UK. River flows remained below average, impacting water supply, agriculture, and energy production.
Copernicus reported a significant increase in wildfire activity in Western Europe due to heat and drought. Lawrence Rouil from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service stated that “climate change is creating severe wildfire conditions in Southern Europe.”
