The world’s oceans reached their highest temperatures ever recorded for the month of July, according to the European Union’s climate monitoring service. Average sea-surface temperatures outside the polar regions reached 20.96°C (69.73°F), surpassing the previous July record of 20.89°C set in 2023. The phenomenon has been attributed in part to developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
1+El Niño is a naturally occurring weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean, but when combined with global warming, it can contribute to sharply higher temperatures and more extreme weather conditions. This July was also the second-hottest July ever recorded globally, with temperatures reaching 1.47°C above the estimated average of the pre-industrial era. Around Europe, sea-surface temperatures reached record levels along parts of the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, contributing to severe marine heatwaves.
1+Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, with prolonged hot and dry conditions fueling massive wildfires across the region. Major rivers including the Seine, Rhine and Danube are also experiencing unusually low water levels, increasing pressure on water supplies and agriculture.
Scientists warn that El Niño could temporarily push global temperatures even higher against the broader backdrop of warming attributed to human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. Scientists warn that July’s record may prove less an anomaly than a glimpse of what increasingly extreme conditions could bring.