July is traditionally considered the warmest month in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). However, this year, the heat began to spread in June, covering large areas of land.
According to national meteorological services, abnormally high temperatures and intense heat were observed in various regions in June, from Western Europe and North America to North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
At the same time, in the southern hemisphere, where June marks the beginning of winter, South America experienced unusually cold weather, with record low temperatures recorded in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.
The climate of Western Europe was influenced by a powerful subtropical ridge, which brought hot and dry air from North Africa. This caused extreme heat, which significantly affected the daily lives of the population.
In a number of regions in Western and South-Western Europe, June temperature records were broken for both night-time and daytime temperatures.
The WMO emphasises that such large-scale and intense heat events are exceptional for the beginning of summer, as they are more commonly observed during the peak of the season.
Sea temperatures in the Mediterranean were also above normal, contributing to the persistence of high air temperatures over adjacent land areas.
