The Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed July to have been the hottest month on record, with a global average temperature of 16.95 °C, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by 0.33 °C. July is estimated to have been about 1.5 °C warmer than the average for 1850 to 1900. In several European countries, temperatures exceeded 40 °C for protracted periods, leading to heat-related deaths and wildfires. As South Africa approaches its summer, business and communities are being urged to also prepare for a moderate-to-strong El Niño, which could bring drier weather to parts of the country.