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August Was Third-Warmest on Record Globally, Copernicus Reports

Copernicus says unusually warm oceans are intensifying extremes, prompting urgent calls for adaptation.

Overview

  • The global average temperature in August reached 16.60°C, which was 1.29°C above pre‑industrial levels and 0.22°C below the August records set in 2023 and 2024.
  • The 12‑month period from September 2024 to August 2025 was 1.52°C warmer than the 1850–1900 baseline, according to the EU climate service.
  • Southwest Europe saw a third major summer heatwave, including an intense August 8–18 event over the Iberian Peninsula and southwest France, with exceptional wildfires reported.
  • Spain experienced a 16‑day heatwave linked by health authorities to more than 1,100 deaths, and wildfires in Spain and Portugal forced evacuations.
  • Europe recorded its fourth‑warmest summer with widespread dryness and localized heavy rain, as Copernicus highlighted near‑record sea temperatures that magnify weather extremes.