World's seas hit record heat

The world's seas have reached their hottest temperature on record for July, with a global average sea surface temperature of 20.96°C. This comes as Western Europe has experienced its hottest June and July on record, with a combined average temperature of 21.62°C, beating the 2022 record for the same period.

The UK's Met Office has warned of another heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid-30s Celsius in parts of Britain. Half of England and the whole of Wales are officially in drought, with 23 million people subject to hosepipe bans. The heat and drought conditions have led to thousands of excess deaths in Europe, with over 14,000 people killed in heatwaves in Europe in June.

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, and the frequency of extreme fire-prone weather is increasing with climate change. France and Spain have battled their worst infernos in living memory this summer. The world's seas were hotter last month than in any July on record, according to scientists.

What's next The Met Office has warned of potential disruptions to railway lines and power networks due to the extreme heat. Health officials have also warned of the risks to vulnerable people from the coming hot weather, with serious consequences possible in health and social care settings and a potential rise in deaths.

The heatwave is expected to continue, with temperatures forecast to reach 36C (97F) or higher this week. The Met Office is considering issuing rare amber or red extreme heat warnings, and officials are meeting to discuss the drought situation and potential further measures to mitigate its effects.