August 2026 tied July 2023 as the hottest month ever recorded globally, with temperatures reaching 1.65C above preindustrial levels, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The record was set before the expected El Niño weather system reaches full strength toward the end of the year, while global sea surface temperatures also reached their highest level recorded for August.
Heat is already affecting communities and economies
The effects of August’s extreme heat are continuing through wildfires, damaged harvests, heatwave-related deaths and disruption to transport, businesses and public services in many countries.
Food prices could rise further as smaller harvests affect domestic markets and imports. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the summer’s economic and social damage was still being assessed, including pressure on transport and health systems and higher costs for basic food.
Key points
- El Niño is a recurring Pacific weather phenomenon that shifts winds, raises ocean temperatures and transfers heat into the atmosphere.
- Its effects can include floods, droughts and heatwaves in different parts of the world.
- Temperatures above 1.5C for a single month do not by themselves mean the Paris climate agreement’s limit has been breached; the higher level would need to persist for several years.
Dry conditions stretched across several regions
Copernicus Earth-observation data showed much drier-than-usual summer conditions in western and central Europe, parts of Scandinavia and southeastern Europe. Drier-than-average conditions were also recorded across areas including the southern United States, northern Mexico, parts of Canada, the Maghreb, the Horn of Africa, Siberia, central Asia, China, South America, South Africa and northern Australia.
The Copernicus service described August as both the warmest August and the warmest month in the global climate record, alongside record global sea surface temperatures and the warmest summer recorded for western Europe. Related coverage: Sea temperatures reached a July record during Europe’s extreme heat.
El Niño could add further pressure
El Niño is expected to reach full strength toward the end of 2026 and has been forecast as potentially the most intense on record. Climate scientist Friederike Otto said the underlying driver of the high temperatures remains the continued burning of coal, oil and gas, while climate change makes each El Niño hotter. Read the context: Ocean temperatures set a new record as El Niño intensifies.
Higher temperatures increase the risk of passing planetary tipping points, including the breakdown of stabilising systems such as the Arctic ice cap and the Amazon rainforest. WWF UK climate adviser Ruth Fuller said the frequency of broken records was increasing that risk.
What happens next
The coming El Niño is expected to reach full strength toward the end of 2026. UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called for a faster shift to clean energy, protection for forests and oceans, and stronger climate resilience.
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