Extreme heat, persistent drought, dangerous wildfires and deadly flooding have defined the state of the climate through July and early August 2026, according to a press release by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Globally, it was the joint warmest July on record, tying with July 2024, based on data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Copernicus Climate Change Service, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), ranked it the second warmest July on record. Average surface air temperature stood 1.47°C above the estimated pre-industrial baseline. The continuing wave of high-impact events underscores the need for reliable forecasts and early warnings.
Climatologically, July is the warmest month of the year, and the ten warmest Julys on record have all occurred since 2016. The past four years, from 2023 to 2026, hold the top four spots. Regionally, North America, Africa and Asia experienced their warmest July on record, according to NOAA. Western Europe recorded its hottest June-July period ever, with some countries facing their fourth heatwave since May. Global sea surface temperatures were the highest ever recorded for July.
Météo-France reported that nearly all of France would see temperatures above 35°C in the week of 10 August, while MeteoSwiss issued a level three amber alert and the UK Met Office forecast up to 36°C in southern England by 13 August. Numerous station and all-time temperature records fell in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia in the first week of August. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and parts of the Middle East and Latin America also saw record-breaking heat. River flows on the Seine, Rhine and Danube dropped sharply, affecting water supply, irrigation and energy production. Dryness intensified across France, Spain, parts of Germany and the UK.
“What we have seen over the last few months is the combined effect of long-term warming with a persistent pattern of alternating high- and low-pressure systems stretching across the northern hemisphere,” said John Kennedy, head of climate information at WMO.
In West Africa, heavy monsoon rainfall caused flooding, while dozens died in monsoon floods in India. China evacuated communities ahead of Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the season, on 7 August. Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar District, home to large refugee camps, was hit hardest by prolonged monsoon flooding. Typhoon Noul forced the evacuation of 700,000 people in China in late July.
July also brought exceptional wildfire activity across western Europe in both area burnt and emissions. According to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, France’s year-to-date fire emissions are comparable to or higher than the extreme fire years of 2022 and 2023. Spain’s fire emissions remain well above average for the time of year. Fires are currently raging across parts of the western United States, while Canada reports 591 active fires, of which 43 are classified as out of control. The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System continues to monitor the situation.