July 2022 was one of the three hottest Julys on record

Last month was one of the three hottest Julys on record globally, satellite data shows — while for southwestern Europe it was the warmest ever in terms of peak heat. 

Temperatures over 104F (40C) were observed in parts of Portugal, Spain, France and the UK, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

This led to all-time records for maximum temperature being broken across those those areas, including in Britain, which saw its hottest day ever recorded on July 19, 2022.

On average, July 2022 was the sixth warmest July for Europe on record. 

The C3S data reveals the intensity of the prolonged heatwave that started in Portugal and Spain, before continuing north and eastwards towards France, the UK, central Europe and Scandinavia. 

The Iberian Peninsula saw an unusually large number of days with maximum temperatures above 95°F (35°C), underlining the longevity of hot temperatures in this region. 

Globally, July 2022 was one of three warmest Julys on record, close to 0.7°F 0.4°C above the 1991-2020 reference period.

It was only marginally cooler than July 2019 and marginally warmer than July 2016. 

In general, northern hemisphere land masses predominantly experienced well above-average temperatures, the data reveals, while much of Australia and central Asia endured below-average temperatures. 

Senior Scientist for the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Freja Vamborg, said: ‘We can expect to continue seeing more frequent and longer periods of extremely high temperatures, as global temperatures increase further. 

‘Heatwaves pose serious risks to human health, and they can increase the intensity and longevity of many other disastrous climate events including wildfires and droughts, affecting both society and natural ecosystems. 

‘Additionally, dry conditions from previous months combined with high temperatures and low precipitation rates seen in many areas during July may have adverse effects on agricultural production and other industries such as river transport and energy production.’  

The C3S routinely publishes monthly climate bulletins reporting on the changes observed in global surface air temperature, sea ice cover and hydrological variables. 

All the reported findings are based on computer-generated analyses using billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world. 

July 2022 was drier than average for much of Europe, with local low precipitation records broken in the west and drought in several locations of the southwest and southeast of the continent.

These conditions facilitated the spread and intensification of wildfires, experts said.

It was also drier than average in much of North America, large regions of South America, Central Asia and Australia.

Wetter-than-average conditions were especially noteworthy in eastern Russia, northern China, and a large wet band spanning from eastern Africa across Asia to northwest India.

Worryingly, Antarctic sea ice extent reached its lowest value for July in the 44-year satellite data record, at seven per cent below average, well below the previous record.

The Southern Ocean saw widespread areas of below-average sea ice concentration from the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas to the northern Weddell Sea, as well as in most of the Indian Ocean sector.

Arctic sea ice extent was 4 per cent below average, ranking 12th lowest for July in the satellite record, well above the low July values seen in 2019–2021.