June 2025 Was Earth’s Third-Warmest June, Western Europe Felt It Most

June 2025 was the third-hottest June ever recorded on Earth, according to data released by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Only 2023 and 2024 were hotter. The global average surface air temperature in June hit 16.46°C. That’s 0.47°C higher than the 1991–2020 average and 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels.

Western Europe broke records. The region experienced its hottest June on record, averaging 20.49°C, nearly 3°C above the historical norm. “June 2025 saw an exceptional heatwave impact large parts of Western Europe,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “Much of the region experienced very strong heat stress.”

Southern Europe faced similar extremes. Portugal reported feels-like temperatures as high as 48°C.

Across the globe, heat also intensified in the U.S., northern Canada, central Asia, and parts of Antarctica. Only a few areas, such as southern South America and parts of India, saw below-average temperatures.

Oceans followed the same trend. Global sea surface temperatures between 60°N and 60°S averaged 20.72°C, also the third highest for June. The western Mediterranean set a record, hitting 27°C and marking the largest daily sea surface temperature anomaly ever recorded.

“This marine heatwave made the European heatwave more intense,” said Burgess.

Temperature records for June 2025

The United States recorded its seventh-warmest June. Seventeen states saw top-ten record temperatures. A heatwave from June 22–25 scorched the Midwest and Northeast. New York City, Boston, and Baltimore reached daily highs near or above 100°F.

Several northeastern U.S. states tied or broke all-time June temperature records. Connecticut hit 103°F, and Boston matched that figure. Maine reached 101°F. NOAA data showed that 2025 is shaping up to be one of the four hottest years globally. The year-to-date average temperature is just 0.08°C behind 2024.

The heat wasn’t limited to land. Sea ice levels also dropped. Arctic sea ice extent in June was 6% below average, the second-lowest since satellite records began. In Antarctica, sea ice was 9% below average.

Dry conditions added to the climate stress. Most of western and southern Europe, as well as large parts of North America, eastern Africa, and Australia, saw below-average rainfall. At the same time, regions like Iceland, parts of Scandinavia, and Brazil were wetter than usual.

Relative humidity over European land areas fell to a new low for June, 2.7% below the average. While temperatures soared, the climate system remained in a neutral ENSO phase. La Niña could return later in 2025, which may bring more intense Atlantic hurricane activity.

Looking at long-term trends, six of the seven hottest Junes in the U.S. have occurred since 2015. Globally, the past 12 months, July 2024 to June 2025, averaged 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.

The data adds to growing concern that the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement is being breached more often. As Burgess warned, “In a warming world, heatwaves are likely to become more frequent, more intense and impact more people across Europe.”

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