Western Europe experienced an exceptional combination of heat and dryness in July 2026, creating conditions that helped drive the spread and intensification of extreme wildfires across the region. Western Europe experienced its third and fourth heatwaves since May, following an exceptionally intense heatwave in June. The availability and dryness of vegetation are critical factors, and July brought particularly concerning conditions across western Europe. Surface soil moisture across western Europe was significantly lower than in July 2022, when the region experienced severe drought. Copernicus data directly links these conditions with exceptional wildfire activity in western Europe in terms of both burned area and emissions.