Copernicus monthly report: Third hottest June on record

According to Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the world just experienced the third hottest June on record.

After a recent series of record-breaking temperatures, the global average temperature for June was 0.31C higher than the long-term climate average between 1991-2020.

Across Europe, temperatures were the second highest on record for June, following consecutive days of 40C for countries including France and Spain.

The historic heatwave led to severe drought conditions across many areas, most notably in Italy's Po basin where the worst drought in 70 years was observed by record low river levels.

This also follows the fourth driest spring in the Mediterranean region since 1901.

In Scandinavia, Banak in northern Norway recorded a maximum temperature of 32.5C, which is another potential new June record.

But it wasn't just Europe. Records were also smashed across Siberia, China, Japan and also the US, to name a few.

Antarctic sea ice was also at its lowest on record for the month of June; 9% lower than the long-term climate average, though it is worth noting that there is also interannual variability to account for.

Arctic sea ice extent was also 3% below the 1991-2020 average, with tropical nights experienced here.

Whilst some parts of the world, such as Turkey, Ireland and south America experienced colder-than-average temperatures, the above-average temperatures were the most prominent and noteworthy, making the global temperature for the month of June one of the hottest on record.

On top of that, the eight hottest Junes on record globally, all have occurred in the last eight years.