Record July heat hits 900 million

In July 2026, regions home to approximately 900 million people experienced their hottest July on record, according to an analysis of Copernicus data by AFP. Some 33 countries recorded their hottest July since records began. The heat was concentrated in the Sahel, Central America, France, and Spain. Nearly 400 million people in Africa, primarily in the Sahel, were affected, with ten countries breaking monthly heat records. Chad and Sudan saw temperatures more than 2°C above the 1981-2010 average. The El Nino climate pattern amplified heat across Central America and northern South America, affecting about 110 million people. El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras set records in June and July, raising famine concerns. The World Food Programme estimated that an additional 16 million people could face food insecurity by 2027. In Europe, nearly 120 million people experienced record heat, with France and Spain registering record drought and devastating wildfires. A megafire in France's Gironde department burned nearly 42,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of over 220,000 people. Spain's largest wildfire in recent history scorched almost 44,000 hectares in Avila province. Other regions, including China's Sichuan province, US states Wyoming and Colorado, and Indonesian islands, also saw unprecedented heat. Scientists from World Weather Attribution noted that extreme heat episodes have become almost ten times more likely since 2015 due to human-driven climate change.