In August, global temperature set a historical record
August 2026 was recorded as the hottest month in the history of meteorological observations. The global average temperature reached 16.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023.
In August, the global temperature reached a historical record
According to data provided by Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the average temperature on Earth in August 2026 reached 16.96 degrees Celsius.
This figure exceeded the previous highest result recorded in August 2023. Thus, August 2026 was recorded as the hottest month in the history of observations.
Reuters writes that the warming of the global temperature relative to the pre-industrial period rose above 1.5 degrees for the first time since November 2025.
Copernicus experts noted that the summer of 2026 was also the hottest summer in the history of observations in Western Europe. At the same time, sea water temperatures also rose to unprecedentedly high levels.
The summer of 2026 was characterized by consecutive extremely intense heatwaves. Extremely high temperatures caused river levels to drop and vegetation to dry up in some regions.
The record-breaking heat was also accompanied by other extreme weather events, including floods and major wildfires.
Copernicus expert Samantha Burgess, in a comment to AFP, said that humanity may not have faced temperatures as high as now for at least the last 100,000 years.
She emphasized that climate change is no longer an abstract concept, and its consequences are increasingly affecting people's daily lives. This includes the melting of road surfaces and the increasing load on hospitals during intense heat in Europe.
Copernicus points to greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas as the main cause of climate warming.
Earlier, the organization had also recorded June and July of 2026 as the hottest months in the history of Western Europe.