Western Europe had its hottest June on record, while June 2026 ranked as the second-hottest June globally, Copernicus said. The heat broke records, fueled wildfires and was linked to deaths across Europe.
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England recorded its warmest June since records began, with a provisional peak of 37.7C in Norfolk and rare extreme heat warnings across parts of the country. The heatwave also affected much of Europe, where authorities reported more than 1,000 heat-related excess deaths in both France and Spain.
European Union monitors said global sea surface temperatures reached their highest June levels ever observed. Scientists warned that El Niño and climate change could drive more records in the months ahead.
A heat dome is forecast to bring dangerous temperatures to much of the Midwest, East and Mid-Atlantic over the July Fourth weekend. More than 100 million people are under extreme heat warnings, with heat indices in some areas expected to reach 105 to 115 degrees.
NASA is preparing a $30 million robotic mission to raise the aging Swift Observatory into a safer orbit before it drops toward re-entry. The telescope, launched in 2004, has studied more than 1,400 gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy cosmic events.
A 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck Venezuela as rescue teams continued searching for survivors of last week’s twin earthquakes. More than 1,400 people have died, tens of thousands remain missing and international crews are assisting in La Guaira and other hard-hit areas.
A heat dome is expected to bring dangerous and potentially record-setting heat across the central and eastern U.S. through the July 4 weekend. Forecasters warn high humidity could push heat indexes to 100 to 110 degrees, with some areas feeling as hot as 115.
Rescuers in Venezuela are searching for survivors after twin earthquakes killed at least 1,430 people and left more than 51,000 reported missing. A magnitude 4.8 quake struck Saturday as aftershocks continued to shake the region.