Copernicus Says August 2026 Was the Hottest Month on Record

Overview

• The report released Thursday by Copernicus showed a global surface air temperature of 16.96°C for August 2026, about 1.65°C above pre‑industrial levels and technically tied with July 2023 as the warmest month on record.
• Copernicus also recorded historic ocean surface warmth with a monthly average of 21.07°C outside polar regions and daily highs near 21.11°C, marking prolonged marine heat that stores most excess climate heat and drives longer-lasting impacts.
• The agency and ECMWF said El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific are present and likely to strengthen in coming months, which scientists warn will probably amplify extreme weather and push more records before year‑end.
• European health monitors reported severe human impacts from the heat: Spain logged a record 61 heat‑wave days and MoMo estimated 5,234 heat‑related deaths for mid‑May to August, while EuroMOMO put excess deaths across Europe in the period at over 10,000.
• UN and climate officials warned that this exceptional heat has immediate economic consequences by intensifying inflationary pressure and raising risks of winter fuel strain, and scientists linked the events to long‑term human‑caused greenhouse gas warming.