Overview
- Copernicus confirmed Thursday that August 2026 tied or slightly exceeded past monthly highs, reporting a global average about 1.65°C above pre‑industrial levels for the month.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the contiguous United States had its hottest meteorological summer on record for June–August, breaking marks that stood since the 1930s.
- Global sea surface and ocean temperatures reached or tied all-time highs in August, producing persistent marine heatwaves and daily ocean-temperature records.
- Forecasters and the World Meteorological Organization say a very strong El Niño is building and could peak late 2026 or early 2027, which raises the odds that 2026 or 2027 will become the warmest year on record.
- Scientists stress that long-term warming from human greenhouse gas emissions set the hot baseline and that the recent extremes have driven heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods, excess deaths and strains on water and energy systems.