August was the joint hottest month on record
Global warming and a record El Niño have pushed Earth’s temperature more than 1.5°C above the preindustrial average, and further heat is on the way
August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded, sharing the title with July 2023. This extreme heat was a result of a powerful El Niño event amplified by global warming. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the average temperature during August was 1.65°C above preindustrial levels, a mark not experienced by humans in the last 100,000 years.
The ocean temperatures also hit new highs, particularly in the extra-polar ocean regions just outside the Arctic and Antarctic circles, with a peak of 21.1°C in the tropical Pacific. This intensified El Niño is expected to continue breaking records through December, potentially reaching 2°C above average in some months. The record-breaking August temperature was particularly severe in Western Europe, contributing to extreme weather, drought, wildfires, and lower crop yields.
The impact was so intense that it led to at least 35,000 additional deaths in Europe and destroyed towns in Nepal and Tibet, leaving over 5,500 people missing. Experts warn that as global temperatures rise, such extreme events will become more frequent and severe, posing significant challenges for food security and climate adaptation.
The UK-based think tank, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), is urging policymakers to take immediate action, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in adaptation strategies, as the world prepares for more climate catastrophes to come.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
