August 2026 breaks global monthly heat record, ocean temperatures hit new high

August 2026 has been confirmed as the hottest August ever recorded globally, with an average temperature of 16.96°C according to the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation programme. The previous monthly record was set in July 2023 at 16.95°C. Global temperatures are now running 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels.

Ocean temperatures reach new highs

Ocean surface temperatures outside polar regions also hit a new record in August 2026, averaging 21.07°C. This surpassed the previous August mark of 20.98°C recorded in 2023. Copernicus expert Samantha Burgess told AFP that humans have likely not experienced temperatures as high as today's for at least 100,000 years. UN climate official Simon Stiell described the temperature records as the price of humanity's dependence on fossil fuels.

Heatwaves devastate West Europe

West Europe endured its hottest summer on record, driven by a succession of severe heatwaves from June through August. The prolonged extreme heat forced school closures, caused river levels to drop, dried out vegetation, and sparked devastating wildfires across the continent. For the full European continent, it ranked as the third-hottest summer on record, behind 2024 and 2022. Grain crops withered across much of West Europe, raising concerns about agricultural losses and food supply.

Climate factors behind the records

Copernicus attributes the record temperatures to global warming from the burning of fossil fuels, amplified in some regions by the El Niño climate phenomenon, which triggers flooding in some areas and drought in others.