Third-warmest June on record reported in 2022

Copernicus Climate Change Service – The global average temperature for June 2022 was about 0.32 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991-2020 average, making it the third warmest June on record, according to a report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Europe had its second warmest June on record at about 1.6ºC above average. Extreme temperatures occurred from Spain across France and into Italy; above-average temperatures were also experienced in China, Japan, and the United States. Colder than average temperatures were seen over Greenland and most of South America.

In June 2022, temperatures were above the 1991-2020 average across most of Europe, with southern parts of the continent from the Iberian Peninsula across France and into Italy most affected. Daily maximum temperatures in Spain, France, and Italy soared above 40°C and the extreme heat exacerbated the ongoing drought conditions in the Po River basin.

Numerous June temperature records were broken across France and Spain. The heat also extended across North Africa, where Tunisia equalled its monthly temperature record. Also, at Banak in northern Norway, a daily maximum temperature of 32.5°C was recorded, which if confirmed, would be a new June record for the county in which it is situated. Despite these record-breaking events, the monthly mean temperature for Europe was not the absolute warmest on record. In contrast, colder-than-average temperatures were experienced in western Russia, central Turkey, western areas of the Iberian Peninsula, and in Ireland.

Above-average temperatures were also found across Siberia and large parts of Asia, where heatwaves in central and northern China led to increased electricity demand. Temperatures of greater than 35°C were recorded for five days in a row in Tokyo, Japan, which is a record.

In North America, high temperatures occurred in Texas, with Houston having its hottest June on record; San Antonio suffered from this extreme heat too. The Middle East also saw above-average temperatures. Temperatures were furthermore much higher than average over large parts of Antarctica and over the Weddell Sea. Other regions of above-average temperature included northern Canada, central Africa, and western Australia.

Meanwhile, June 2022 had much colder than average temperatures over Greenland, most of South America and especially Argentina, southern Africa, and across eastern Australia. Temperatures were also below the 1991-2020 average over several other land regions, including north-western Africa and small pockets of eastern Asia.

Near-surface air temperatures were mixed over parts of all the major ocean basins. Above-average temperatures occurred most prominently over the northeast Pacific and South Atlantic, while below-average marine air temperatures were located in the tropical and southern sub-tropical eastern Pacific, indicative of continuing La Niña conditions. Below-average temperatures were also experienced in the southern Indian Ocean to the south of Madagascar and Australia.