Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record in 2023, according to the EU's climate monitor, as a severe heatwave impacted the region. This heatwave, characterized by a "heat dome" effect, resulted in unprecedented temperatures across several countries and raised alarms about the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
Record Temperatures Across Western Europe
The average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74°C in June, significantly surpassing the 1991-2020 norm by more than 3°C. This record broke the previous June record set in 2025. Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), stated, "We will see more heatwaves in a warmer world," emphasizing the ongoing impacts of climate change.
June marked the second hottest month globally and for Europe as a whole, with global temperatures averaging 1.39°C above pre-industrial averages. The intense heatwave led to thousands of heat-related deaths, particularly in France, Spain, and Belgium, affecting over 410 million people across Europe.
