Albania with above normal temperatures/ June 2026 among the hottest ever

2026-07-21 14:37:31, Sociale CNA

Albania was hit by temperatures significantly higher than the climate average at the end of June, in a month that brought new heat records in Europe and globally.

The map published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and posted on the European Commission's website shows that, during the period 18–30 June 2026, average surface air temperatures in Albania were generally around 2 to 4°C above the 1991–2020 average. The anomaly was most pronounced in the northern and central parts of the Balkan region, while Greece and the southernmost areas showed more limited deviations.

Although Albania was not among the most extreme areas of the continent, the map shows that the country was part of a broad belt of heat that stretched from the Iberian Peninsula and France, through Central Europe, to Eastern Europe.

According to Copernicus, June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the second hottest globally. The global average temperature reached 16.54°C, or 0.56°C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.39°C above the estimated pre-industrial level of 1850–1900.

Western Europe, up to 9°C above normal

The worst situation was recorded in Western Europe. During the second half of June, parts of France and Germany experienced average temperatures up to 9°C above the climate norm.

The Copernicus map shows France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland and parts of Central Europe in darker colors, signaling deviations of 7–9°C above the 1991–2020 average.

The average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74°C during June, 3.05°C above the monthly normal, surpassing the record set just a year earlier, in June 2025.

Only Cyprus and Malta recorded temperatures close to normal levels, according to the European Commission.
In Spain and Portugal, temperatures were mostly 3–6°C above average, while in the UK the deviation reached 5–7°C in some areas.

Italy, the Adriatic countries and most of the Balkans were also affected by above-normal temperatures, but with lower intensity than Western Europe. In most of Italy, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro, the map shows deviations generally from 2°C to 4°C.

In Central and Eastern Europe, the belt of high temperatures extended to Poland, the Baltic countries, Ukraine and the western part of Russia, where in some areas the anomalies reached 5–7°C.

Copernicus reported that the average temperature over European land during June was the second highest on record for the month. The heat was also accompanied by the highest sea surface temperatures ever recorded globally for a June.

Drought and fire risk

High temperatures were accompanied by drier conditions in parts of Europe, increasing the risk of forest and grassland fires. Copernicus estimates that the drought contributed to the spread of fires in Europe, North America and Russia during the month.

For Albania, above-normal temperatures at the end of June coincide with the start of the fire season, when lack of rainfall, dry vegetation, and winds can accelerate the spread of flames.

New data confirms that heat waves are occurring earlier, lasting longer and covering wider areas of the continent. Copernicus warns that the continued accumulation of heat in the climate system is increasing the intensity of heat waves and the risks to health, ecosystems and infrastructure./Monitor