The world’s oceans recorded their hottest-ever July temperatures, with developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific contributing to the rise, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Average sea surface temperatures outside polar regions, between 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south, reached 20.96°C in July, surpassing the previous record of 20.89°C set in 2023.
July was also jointly the second-warmest July globally, with temperatures 1.47°C above the estimated pre-industrial average.
Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, with prolonged hot and dry conditions contributing to severe wildfires across several countries.
In the United Kingdom, authorities are preparing for the fifth heatwave of the year, while persistent dry weather is increasing pressure on water supplies and raising the possibility of more areas being declared in drought.
Across Europe, sea surface temperatures reached record levels along the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, contributing to widespread strong and severe marine heatwaves.
Meanwhile, sea temperatures remained exceptionally high across much of the tropical Pacific as El Niño conditions continued developing.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern involving warming of Pacific Ocean waters. Scientists say its effects, combined with human-driven global warming, can amplify temperature increases and contribute to more extreme weather events worldwide.
