The June-to-August average reached 24C, 3.6C above normal, according to Meteo-France. The country recorded 53 heatwave days, nearly 40 per cent less rain than average, widespread fires and record ocean temperatures along its coastlines.
Yangsan reached 42.5°C, the highest reading in 122 years of South Korean observations, as extreme heat spread toward Seoul and western regions. South Korea reported 14 deaths and 1,889 heat-related illnesses since mid-May.
Marine heatwaves, episodes of abnormally high ocean temperatures, are increasingly affecting marine ecosystems globally. From die-back of key species to migration of entire populations, these extreme events pose urgent challenges for biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal communities.