August 2026 Was the Hottest Month Ever Recorded: Copernicus Data
While the strengthening El Niño helped boost temperatures, climate change is the main culprit for making August so hot.
Last month, August 2026, marked the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, according to data from the European Union's Copernicus climate agency. This follows a summer of unprecedented heat records, driven by the strengthening of El Niño and the ongoing effects of climate change. The global average temperature in August was 1.65 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) above the preindustrial average, tying August 2023 for the title of the planet's hottest month.
The previous record for the hottest July was also tied in 2026, while June 2026 set a new benchmark for the second-hottest June ever recorded. These records have been set against the backdrop of a hotter-than-ever summer, with Western Europe experiencing its warmest summer on record and the US seeing the hottest summer on record since the Dust Bowl.
The impacts of these extreme temperatures have been felt locally, with an estimated 35,000 deaths attributed to heatwaves in Germany, France, and Spain. Wildfires have also ravaged parts of Europe, leading to the first documented fire cloud in France and threatening a critical NASA observatory in Spain. Smoke from these fires has blanketed areas in the Northeastern United States.
North America has not been spared, with wildfires in Canada and northern parts of the US contributing to a smoky haze across the region. The El Niño currently affecting the eastern Pacific Ocean is a key factor in this heatwave, amplifying the background temperature rise. This year's El Niño is expected to reach record strength, potentially exacerbating global temperatures in the coming year.
While a single month's temperature doesn't necessarily breach the crucial 1.5-degree Celsius threshold for long-term global warming, these extreme monthly temperatures signal that the world is rapidly approaching this critical limit set by climate scientists. The UN has warned that the world could cross the 1.5-degree Celsius mark in the coming years.
To prevent further warming and mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change, a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and the reduction of carbon emissions are essential.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
