August 2026 Ties Record as World’s Hottest Month

News Desk

August 2026 tied the record for the hottest month ever recorded globally, with the world’s average surface temperature matching the previous record set in July 2023, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Copernicus recorded the global average surface temperature at 16.96°C in August, which was 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average.

The month was also 1.65°C warmer than the estimated pre-industrial average for 1850–1900. It was the first time since November 2025 that global temperatures had exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.

Ocean temperatures also reached unprecedented levels. Excluding polar regions, the average surface temperature of the world’s oceans climbed to 21.07°C, the highest recorded for August.

Scientists attribute the continuing extreme heat primarily to human-driven greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. The El Niño climate phenomenon also contributed to intensifying temperatures.

The June-to-August period of 2026 was likewise tied for the hottest summer on record globally. Western Europe, meanwhile, experienced its hottest summer ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2003.

The extreme heat was accompanied by severe drought conditions across several regions, including the UK, France, Hungary, Romania and Serbia. Major European rivers, including the Rhine and Danube, also recorded unusually low water levels.

The latest figures add to growing concerns over the pace of global warming and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.