Overview
- Two independent Copernicus services reported new global June sea-surface temperature highs reached on June 21, with averages of about 20.86°C and 21.0°C that beat 2023–24 records.
- Copernicus said the first half of 2026 featured sustained exceptional warmth and marine heatwaves that affected roughly 82 percent of the global ocean, stressing coral reefs and regional ecosystems.
- NOAA officially declared El Niño in early June, and Copernicus seasonal models suggest the event may strengthen to levels not seen in decades, increasing the chance of more temperature records.
- Warmer seas store most excess heat from greenhouse gases, which raises atmospheric moisture, fuels stronger storms and increases the risk of extreme rainfall, coastal flooding, and more coral bleaching.
- The new June peak builds on elevated ocean baselines set in 2023–24 and signals a convergence of long-term human-driven warming and natural El Niño variability that could shape weather and climate impacts through 2026 and into 2027.