June 2025 was the second warmest month in Greece in 15 years. May had already been a record month, with the prospect of life-threatening heat in the future.
The second warmest month of the decade
June 2025 ended up as one of the hottest months of the decade. Temperatures stayed stubbornly above average across Greece, making the weather feel a bit off for early summer.
People across different regions really felt the heat. It crept into daily routines and left its mark on the landscape too.
Honestly, the way the heat keeps ramping up every summer is starting to feel like the new normal. It’s hard to ignore that these patterns aren’t letting up.
June 2025’s weather in Greece just wouldn’t cool down. Maximum daily temperatures hovered above the usual for weeks.
The north, the west, and the Peloponnese felt it the most. In those areas, the mercury climbed 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm.
That’s a pretty big jump, especially for regions used to milder Junes. The rest of the country got off a bit easier, but even there, it was warmer than you’d expect.
Data from dozens of weather stations put June 2025 as the second warmest since 2010. Only June 2024 beat it, which is saying something.
Most of the month, the heat barely let up. Even during the rare cool spells, temperatures hovered right around the decade’s average.
Region |
Temperature Anomaly (°C) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Northern Greece |
+2 to +3 |
Highest positive deviation |
Western Greece |
+2 to +3 |
Consistently above average |
Peloponnese |
+2 to +3 |
Significant temperature rise |
Other Areas |
+1 to +2 |
Warm but less extreme increase |
The numbers paint a clear picture—Greece is warming, and some regions are really feeling the brunt. It’s not just a blip; it’s a trend that’s sticking around.
Visuals like tables and graphs make it obvious how much things have changed, both month to month and region to region.
That steady climb in June temperatures throws a wrench into everything from farming to electricity use. People and businesses are having to adapt, sometimes on the fly.
The places with the sharpest spikes in heat are at higher risk for crop stress and energy shortages. Keeping tabs on these patterns is more important than ever for anyone trying to plan ahead.
The network of 53 weather stations across Greece has become pretty essential. It’s the backbone for tracking these shifts and figuring out what they mean for the future.
Already May 2025 Recorded as the Second Warmest on Record
May 2025 didn’t hold back either. It landed as the second warmest May ever measured on Earth—only May 2024 was hotter.
That capped off the second warmest spring (March to May) the Northern Hemisphere has ever seen, at least according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
On average, May’s surface temperature was about 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than during the pre-industrial era. That baseline covers 1850 to 1900, before fossil fuels took over.
Out of the last 22 months, 21 have clocked in at around 1.5 degrees above that old baseline. It’s hard not to notice the trend.
Even with all this heat, experts say this phase of elevated warmth might not last forever. Still, the long-term forecast? More warming ahead, thanks to how Earth’s climate system works.
The record heat didn’t just break thermometers. It triggered some wild weather, too.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group say human-driven climate change caused a May 2025 heatwave in Iceland and Greenland. Temperatures there ended up about 3 degrees Celsius higher than they would have been otherwise.
Between 15 and 21 May, Greenland’s ice melted at a rate 17 times faster than average. Meanwhile, Iceland hit over 26 degrees Celsius on 15 May—a record for the Arctic island.
That shattered the old May daily maximum by more than 13 degrees. It’s honestly hard to wrap your head around.
Key Temperature Highlights in May 2025
Region |
Temperature Increase Compared to Pre-Industrial Average |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Global average |
+1.4°C |
Overall surface temperature |
Northern Hemisphere (Spring) |
Second warmest spring on record |
Period from March to May |
Iceland |
+13°C above May average daily max |
First time over 26°C recorded in May |
Greenland |
Ice melt rate 17 times above historic average |
Substantial impact on ice sheet and sea level rise |
Effects of Warming in May 2025
- Global surface temperatures kept smashing old records.
- The Northern Hemisphere saw one of its hottest springs ever.
- Greenland’s rapid ice melt only added to sea level worries.
- The Arctic, including Iceland, saw warmth that blew past anything in the record books.
Copernicus data makes it pretty clear: Earth’s climate is shifting. Human activity is a big part of why these numbers keep climbing.
Several years of life-threatening heat are ahead
Experts are bracing for more record-breaking temperatures in the next few years. We’re talking about a stretch of dangerous extremes—deadly heatwaves, wildfires, and long droughts.
Two of the world’s top meteorological agencies have sounded the alarm. Their climate models point to a very high chance—close to 80%—that we’ll set at least one new annual global temperature record in the next five years.
Global temperatures are also on track to blow past the targets set in international climate agreements from a decade ago. That means more frequent and severe heat-driven disasters.
Key Points on Future Heat Risks
- Human-driven climate change keeps pushing the global average temperature up.
- Every extra 0.1°C brings a higher risk of extreme weather events like:
- Intense heatwaves
- Stronger tropical storms
- Long droughts
- Severe floods
- Widespread wildfires
- There’s a real risk we’ll pass the 1.5°C increase set by the Paris Climate Accord.
- Some forecasts even hint we could hit a 2°C rise before 2030, though that’s less likely.
Probability Estimates for Temperature Increases
Scenario |
Chance of Occurrence (%) |
|---|---|
At least one year over +1.5°C |
86 |
Average temperature over five years exceeds +1.5°C |
70 |
Temperature surpasses +2°C by 2030 (low probability) |
Present but low |
Consequences for Society and Environment
Rising temperatures hit people, farms, and cities hard. Heatwaves claim more lives, especially among the elderly and vulnerable.
Crops struggle with longer dry spells and unpredictable rain, which puts food security at risk. Wildfires threaten homes and natural habitats, while floods and storms hammer coastal and urban areas.
Scientists keep stressing that some warming is baked in, but cutting emissions could still prevent the worst. Without serious changes, dangerous weather is going to stick around—and maybe get even worse.
The EU Lacks a Strategy to Curb Rising Deaths Linked to Climate Change
Europe’s dealing with more health threats as the climate shifts. Heatwaves, floods, and wildfires are hitting harder and more often—resulting in more deaths, and honestly, there’s still no real EU-wide plan to handle it.
Tropical diseases, which used to stick to warmer places, are creeping into southern Europe. The tiger mosquito, for example, is moving north and bringing viruses like dengue and chikungunya along for the ride.
Now, you can even find these mosquitoes in Brussels and over 20 other Belgian cities. That’s not exactly reassuring if you thought these illnesses would stay far away.
Deaths from heat are on track to triple by the end of this century. Floods and wildfires are also claiming more lives.
Europe’s warming up faster than the global average, which is a pretty big red flag for public health. It’s not just about the weather—it’s about the people living through it.
Public health officials keep telling the EU to get a grip and connect climate policy with health action. They want better prep for emergencies, healthier cities, safer housing, improved transport, and food security.
There’s also talk about making healthcare more sustainable and pushing for climate justice. These aren’t just buzzwords—people’s lives are at stake here.
Most current EU efforts focus on research funding to figure out how climate change affects health. That’s useful, but it doesn’t really shield communities from the dangers they’re already facing.
Key points:
- Tropical diseases are reaching more of Europe as mosquitoes expand their territory.
- Heat-related deaths could jump sharply by 2100.
- Floods and wildfires are behind more fatalities.
- Europe’s temperatures are rising faster than the global average, which only makes things worse.
- The EU still hasn’t rolled out a full health-climate strategy.
- Experts keep calling for policies that actually link climate action and health preparedness.
Climate-Related Health Challenges |
Current EU Response |
Needed Actions |
|---|---|---|
Spread of tropical diseases |
Research funding only |
Integrated prevention strategies |
Increasing heat-related deaths |
Limited adaptation measures |
Heatwave response plans |
Deaths from floods and wildfires |
No specific health strategies |
Emergency health services plans |
Rapid regional temperature rise |
No binding fossil fuel policies |
Aggressive emissions reduction |
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the average temperatures recorded in June 2025?
June 2025 brought temperatures that ran noticeably higher than usual in many places. In some areas, daily means topped typical June numbers by 1.5 to 3 degrees Celsius—one of the hottest early summers in recent memory.
How does June 2025 compare to global temperature trends over the past ten years?
Looking at the last decade, June 2025 easily lands among the top five hottest Junes since 2015. That’s another notch in the ongoing climb fueled by climate change.
What impacts did the increased heat in June 2025 have on local climates?
The heat in June 2025 brought long dry stretches to some regions. Others got slammed with intense heatwaves, which threw normal seasonal patterns out of whack and hit agriculture and water supplies pretty hard.
Which regions recorded the highest temperatures during June 2025?
Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East ended up with some of the highest readings. Peaks soared above 40°C, and certain cities even broke daytime heat records—bad news for anyone at risk from heat-related health problems.
How were local ecosystems affected by the high temperatures in June 2025?
Plenty of ecosystems struggled with the heat. Less soil moisture and hotter air made it tough on plants and animals.
Some species started shifting to cooler spots, while others just couldn’t cope and saw higher mortality.
What actions have been taken to manage the consequences of June 2025’s heatwave?
Authorities jumped into action with emergency measures like cooling centres and public advisories in the hardest-hit regions.
They also ramped up water conservation efforts and offered extra support for vulnerable groups.
Now, officials are taking a good hard look at longer-term climate adaptation strategies in light of all this.
