August 2026 became the warmest August ever recorded globally as temperatures reached an extraordinary level across land and oceans.
The latest data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service also placed August among the hottest months ever measured. Its global average surface air temperature reached 16.96°C.
That figure made August 2026 the joint-warmest month on record, alongside July 2023. The difference between the two months was less than 0.01°C.
At the same time, a powerful El Niño event is developing in the tropical Pacific. Forecasts suggest the event could become one of the strongest El Niño episodes recorded in the modern era.
August Breaks Global Heat Records
Copernicus said August was 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average.
The month was also 1.65°C above the estimated pre-industrial level. It was the first month since November 2025 to exceed 1.5°C above that baseline.
The heat did not affect only the atmosphere.
Global land temperatures reached their highest August level in the Copernicus record. Meanwhile, the average sea surface temperature across the extra-polar oceans reached 21.07°C.
That was the highest August level ever recorded. It also matched the highest monthly ocean temperature recorded for any month.
El Niño Adds More Heat
Scientists are now watching the Pacific closely.
El Niño occurs when unusually warm waters develop across the central and eastern tropical Pacific. The phenomenon can then alter rainfall, winds and temperatures across distant parts of the world.
In 2026, sea temperatures across the tropical Pacific have climbed sharply. Copernicus said El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months and could continue into 2027.
The developing event adds another source of warming to a planet already experiencing long-term temperature increases from human-driven climate change.
Copernicus said the combination could push global temperatures higher in the months ahead.
Western Europe Records Hottest Summer
Europe also experienced exceptional heat during the summer.
Western Europe recorded its hottest summer on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2003.
The region faced repeated heatwaves, dry conditions and major wildfire activity. Several parts of central and eastern Europe also experienced drought and unusually low river levels.
For Europe as a whole, however, summer 2026 ranked as the third warmest on record.
The extreme conditions followed a prolonged period of high temperatures that began earlier in the year.
Climate Records Could Continue
The latest figures have increased concerns about what could happen as El Niño strengthens.
Copernicus said 2026 currently ranks as the second-warmest year on record for the January-to-August period. However, the final ranking could change during the remaining months.
The agency noted that strong El Niño conditions in 2023 were followed by a sharp rise in global temperatures during the final four months of that year. If a similar pattern occurs in 2026, this year could finish close to the current annual record set by 2024.
Scientists therefore expect the coming months to remain closely watched.
The latest data show that record heat is no longer limited to isolated regions. Instead, extreme temperatures are appearing across land and ocean systems at the same time.
As El Niño develops, climate scientists will be monitoring global temperatures, ocean heat, drought, wildfires and other weather extremes for signs of further records.
