British Columbia has declared a state of emergency after the Bald Range wildfire doubled in size and forced about 20,000 people to flee. The fire, west of the Okanagan region, has spread over more than 100 square kilometers and is still listed as out of control. Officials called the blaze explosive, with hot, dry weather and strong winds driving the flames. Evacuation orders cover several communities, and emergency shelters have opened. Fire crews from across the province are being moved to the area. The wildfire is part of a severe season across western Canada.
Gray whale carcasses are washing up along the U.S. West Coast at record rates, with 146 strandings counted in the first half of 2026 compared with an annual average of 43 between 2006 and 2023. Researchers estimate 2,500 to 8,000 gray whales died in 2025 and 2026, meeting the criteria for a “catastrophic mortality event.” Climate change is melting sea ice and depleting the tiny crustaceans the whales feed on, and most examined carcasses show signs of starvation. Conservation groups are urging the government to relist the species under the Endangered Species Act.
Massive wildfires in France and Spain have forced around 330,000 people from their homes, officials said, as another heat wave builds over western Europe. The blazes, driven by drought and strong winds, are burning across southwestern France and northern Spain, destroying homes and reaching the outskirts of several towns. Thousands of firefighters are battling the flames with support from planes and helicopters, and new evacuation orders were issued as winds picked up. Scientists say climate change is making heat waves and fire weather more frequent and more intense across the Mediterranean. The fires are among the largest in the region in years, and authorities warn that conditions could worsen before they improve.
Massive wildfires in France and Spain have forced about 330,000 people from their homes as another heat wave builds over southern Europe. New evacuation orders were issued in southwestern France, where flames have consumed thousands of hectares. Austria recorded its highest temperature on record, and Hungary moved to curb power use as the heat strained the grid. Firefighters from across Europe have joined the response, with water-dropping aircraft working through the day. Scientists say hotter, drier summers driven by climate change are making fire seasons longer and more destructive. Evacuation centers are sheltering thousands of families.
Arctic sea ice reached its lowest winter maximum on record this year, scientists said, as extreme heat continued to smash milestones around the planet. Thin winter ice melts faster in summer and leaves more open water, which absorbs more heat and warms the region further. The shrinking ice threatens polar bears, seals, and Arctic communities, while opening shipping routes earlier each year. The Arctic warms about four times faster than the global average, and melting ice sheets in Greenland are raising sea levels worldwide. Climate researchers said the record low matches what models predicted decades ago and that cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains the only way to slow the decline.
July was the driest month in southern England since records began, according to weather officials, as repeated heatwaves turned the region brown. Rainfall came in well below normal, and parts of the country are now in drought. Farmers warned that the dry conditions could lead to food shortages, with crops struggling and reservoirs running low. The heat has also fueled wildfires across France and Greece. Water companies have introduced restrictions such as hosepipe bans, and experts say the region needs sustained rain to recover before autumn arrives. Officials said the record reflects a wider pattern of hotter, drier summers across Europe.
Greek firefighters battled Sunday to control a huge wildfire that destroyed more than 100 homes northwest of Athens. The blaze spread quickly in hot, dry winds, forcing hundreds of evacuations. Two people died when two firefighting helicopters collided west of Athens, temporarily halting aerial operations. The fire is one of several burning across Europe, where France and Spain are also fighting blazes. Drought has spread so far that Hungary shut its nuclear power plant when the Danube River dropped too low for cooling. Austria broke heat records and Japan is bracing for Typhoon Dolphin. Scientists say extreme heat and dry conditions are making fire seasons longer across the region. This report covers the fire, the helicopter crash, and the wider heat crisis.
Massive wildfires in France and Spain have forced about 330,000 people to evacuate as another heat wave moves across southern Europe. Fire crews are battling blazes in southwestern France and in Spain, where flames have spread quickly in dry conditions. Authorities ordered new evacuations over the weekend as temperatures climbed again. Scientists say climate change is making such fires more frequent and intense. The evacuations are among the largest seen in the region in years, and emergency services in both countries are stretched thin.
Arctic sea ice reached its lowest winter extent on record this year, scientists said, as unprecedented heat continued to smash records around the world. The winter ice cover is the smallest ever measured by satellites, a sign that the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet. At the same time, heat waves, droughts, and wildfires have hit multiple continents. Researchers said the shrinking ice cover affects weather patterns far beyond the Arctic, including winter storms in North America and Europe. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that climate change is accelerating.
Arctic sea ice reached its lowest winter level on record this year, according to scientists who track polar ice, as unusually warm conditions persisted across the region. The record follows a year of extreme heat around the world, with wildfires burning across Australia, Argentina, and South Africa. In Europe, a new report found that climate change has sharply increased the likelihood of the hot, dry weather that helped wildfires spread in France and Spain. Scientists say the record low ice and the surge in fires share the same driver: rising global temperatures. They warn that some changes, including the loss of summer sea ice, may already be unavoidable in the coming decades.