Europe’s Hottest June-July on Record Sparks Wildfires and Drought

Western Europe has just lived through its hottest June-July period ever recorded, with extreme heat, drought, and wildfires gripping large parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that the warming climate is making heatwaves more frequent, more intense, longer-lasting, and more widespread. The scorching conditions have dried out landscapes, fueling fires that have forced evacuations and damaged property. Water shortages are also becoming a growing concern as reservoirs shrink and crops suffer. According to the WMO, this is not an isolated event but part of a clear trend linked to climate change. The organization warns that what was once rare is now becoming the new normal, urging governments to prepare for even hotter summers ahead. While the full impact is still being assessed, the message from experts is clear: the heat is not just uncomfortable—it is dangerous, costly, and increasingly unavoidable.