Western Europe has just recorded its hottest June and July on record, according to reports. The extreme heat has left large parts of the region in the grip of drought, with soils unusually dry and major rivers running low. The unusually dry conditions are affecting agriculture and water supplies across the area. Meteorologists say a strengthening El Nino weather pattern could push global temperatures even higher later this year. The reports give no specific temperature figures but point to the sheer scale of the heat, which has persisted for two consecutive months. Dry soils mean crops are under stress, and low river levels can disrupt shipping, cooling for power plants, and the supply of drinking water. The combination of record heat and drought has put authorities on alert. El Nino, a natural climate pattern marked by warming of the Pacific Ocean, tends to add extra heat to the planet on top of the long-term warming trend. Scientists will be watching whether the already unprecedented summer becomes even more extreme in the months ahead. The reports offer no forecast for when rains might return, leaving communities bracing for a prolonged stretch of hot, dry weather.