Global Temperature Record Broken in August 2026

September 10, 2026 · Milliyet Ekonomi

According to Copernicus data, August 2026 recorded the hottest month in history with an average surface temperature of 16.96 degrees Celsius.

Historic Record Broken in Global Temperatures

According to data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the world experienced its hottest month on record in August 2026. The global average surface air temperature was measured at 16.96 degrees Celsius during this period. This recorded value was 0.85 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 August average, surpassing the record of 16.95 degrees Celsius seen in July 2023. Furthermore, the critical threshold was crossed by reaching 1.65 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial era average. The global summer season temperature was also measured at 0.69 degrees Celsius above average.

Extreme Heat in Europe and Seas

Continental data also reached remarkable levels in the report published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average August temperature across Europe was recorded at 20.26 degrees Celsius, 1.10 degrees above the 1991-2020 average. The average temperature for the summer of 2026 across the continent was measured at 1.17 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms. The Western Europe region completed its hottest summer, surpassing the 2003 record. Sea surface temperature in oceans, excluding polar regions, rose to 21.07 degrees Celsius in August, reaching an all-time high.

Profound Impacts of El Nino and Climate Change

Samantha Burgess, Head of ECMWF's Climate Strategy, emphasized that an extraordinary situation has emerged, influenced by strengthening El Nino conditions in the Pacific. Samantha Burgess stated:

'August 2026 was an extraordinary month in global climate records. It went down in history as both the hottest August and the hottest month ever recorded. Global temperatures rose 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.'

Highlighting the rise in extreme weather events, ECMWF Climate Strategy Leader Samantha Burgess added the following warning:

'The impacts of these conditions are being increasingly felt by communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide.'

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