According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, a European climate‑monitoring agency, August 2026 tied the benchmark for the hottest month ever recorded since at least 1940. The global average temperature for the month was 62.53 °F (16.96 °C), which is 1.53 °F (0.85 °C) above the 1991‑2020 average.
Ocean heat and El Niño drive the record
Copernicus attributes the extreme warmth to two primary factors: long‑term, human‑caused global warming and a strengthening El Niño event in the tropical Pacific. Ocean surface temperatures also reached record highs, pushing global sea‑surface temperatures to a new monthly peak.
The three‑month meteorological summer (June‑August) tied the summer of 2024 as the hottest such season on record worldwide.
Historical context
Since 1940, August has only surpassed July’s global average temperature four times, not counting this year. The most recent prior occurrence was in 1985. The fact that August outpaced July this year is unusual, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus.
“We’re at a real inflection point for society,” Burgess said. “We’ve seen catastrophic climate events around the world, and this summer the impacts have been felt everywhere.” She noted that Europe’s record‑breaking summer has highlighted the continent’s vulnerability to the current climate.
U.S. heat records
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirm that the United States also experienced its hottest summer on record, surpassing the Dust Bowl era record of 1936 and the previous high set in 2021.
Across the Lower 48 states, a series of heat domes produced prolonged periods of record‑breaking temperatures, especially in the Southwest.
Temperature relative to pre‑industrial levels
The global average surface air temperature was 2.97 °F (1.65 °C) above pre‑industrial levels, marking the first month since November 2025 to exceed the Paris Agreement’s long‑term 1.5 °C target.
A recent United Nations Environment Programme report warned that without steep cuts to planet‑warming emissions, the 1.5 °C target is likely to be exceeded over the long term, increasing the odds of potentially catastrophic climate impacts.
What’s next?
Scientists say the ongoing El Niño could sustain or even extend this streak of extreme temperatures, potentially leading to a longer period of record‑breaking heat.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about local heat advisories and to take precautions during extreme heat events.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
