The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has declared that Western Europe endured its hottest June and July on record this summer, with an average temperature of 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over the two-month period - a staggering 2.79C (5.01F) above average and surpassing the previous record set in 2022. This extreme heat, according to the European Union's climate change monitor, is due to the "exceptional persistence of heat" this summer, which has been exacerbated by persistent high-pressure systems that have trapped heat over Western Europe. The prolonged high temperatures have also intensified widespread drought conditions, leading to significantly lower levels of soil moisture compared to July 2022 when severe drought gripped the region. The extraordinary heat wave has had profound effects on several countries in Western Europe, with many rivers experiencing exceptionally low water levels, such as the Seine, Rhine, and Danube. This has caused issues with water supplies and irrigation, leading Hungary and Slovenia to operate their nuclear power plants at reduced capacity. France and Spain have also registered record levels of drought, which have fueled devastating wildfires. Notable examples include a megafire that burned nearly 42,000 hectares (103,785 acres) in southwestern France’s Gironde department, forcing the evacuation of over 220,000 people, and Spain's largest wildfire in recent history, which scorched almost 44,000 hectares (108,725 acres) in Avila province near Madrid. The report also highlights that large fires can send smoke high into the atmosphere, allowing it to travel thousands of kilometers and impact air quality in other countries. Additionally, the C3S has recorded the highest sea surface temperatures on record outside the polar regions in July, with an average sea surface temperature of 20.96C (69.7F), slightly higher than the previous record of 20.89C (69.6F) in 2023. This extreme heat and drought event is a clear example of how climate change is exacerbating heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.