Visual moments from Europe's scorching summer

Geneva (ANTARA) - July 2026 was recorded as the second-hottest July in history worldwide, arriving with extreme heat, prolonged drought, and forest and land fires affecting much of the Northern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on 11 August 2026 that contrasting conditions of heavy rain and flooding struck several other regions. The global average surface air temperature in July reached 1.47 degrees Celsius above the estimated pre-industrial average for the 1850-1900 period, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service cited by the WMO. Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record. The extreme heat continued into August, with several countries now facing their fourth heatwave since May, according to the WMO. The following is a series of visual moments captured from Europe’s scorching summer this year.