Earth has just been through one of its most extreme periods of heat ever measured. August 2026 was the hottest month on record, according to the European climate service Copernicus. Scientists say the record heat was mainly caused by human-caused climate change and El Nino was also a factor in it.
The global average temperature in August was 16.96°C (62.53°F). That was technically about 0.01°C higher than the previous record set in July 2023. But the difference is within the uncertainty range of the measurements so scientists consider the two months effectively tied.
The new data is another alarm signal about how fast the planet is warming. And it also comes as much of the world has had extreme heat, wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events.
The global temperature is passing a large temperature threshold.
August 2026 was about 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, Copernicus said. That is well above the 1.5°C warming level that countries agreed to try to limit long-term global warming to under the Paris climate agreement.
The 1.5°C target is a long-term average and not a single month. One month above that level does not mean the Paris target has been permanently crossed. But scientists say repeated monthly temperature records are an important sign of the planet's continuing warming trend.
Copernicus data also shows how unusual recent temperatures have become. The eight hottest months ever recorded have all occurred since July 2023.
August also had extraordinary ocean heat. Global monthly ocean temperatures tied the record of March 2024 for the warmest month in the seas. Also, August 22 was the hottest day ever measured for the world's oceans.
The heat was not limited to one region. The Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest summer on record, Copernicus wrote.
The United States also experienced exceptional temperatures. Summer 2026 was the hottest ever recorded in the Lower 48 states, exceeding the previous record set in the Dust Bowl summer of 1936.
Climate Change Remains The Main Driver.
So scientists say the unusually strong El Nino is helping push global temperatures higher, but it is not the main reason behind the record heat.
El Nino is a natural climate pattern that takes place because of unusually warm waters in parts of the Pacific Ocean. It can affect weather around the world and temporarily increase global temperatures.
The current El Nino is expected to be particularly strong in the coming few months. The World Meteorological Organization warned it will continue into February 2027 and have the potential for extreme heat, drought and rainfall in the world's poorest countries and in many areas of the world.
But the scientific community maintains that climate change is a human-caused problem. Burning coal, oil and natural gas releases greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
And, according to Copernicus climate lead Samantha Burgess, El Nino tends to only add 0.1°C to 0.2°C to global temperatures. Most of the additional warming comes from the long-term effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists are also expecting more heat records if emissions continue at current levels. Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said it is increasingly likely that 2026 will be warmer than 2024, which is currently the warmest year on record.
The extreme temperatures also have direct effects on everyday life. Heat waves can put pressure on hospitals, increase health risks, damage roads and railway lines, affect crops and worsen wildfire conditions.
India also experienced unusual heat this year. The India Meteorological Department said August 2026 was India’s hottest August since records began in 1901, when the mean temperature reached 28.01°C.
It is therefore a record that the global climate report does not even mention. Scientists say it shows that a warming world is increasingly affecting weather, health, infrastructure and daily life.
Because El Nino is expected to strengthen further, record-setting temperatures are likely to be even more likely to get reported next month. But scientists say for the future, the solution is clear: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and getting away from dependence on fossil fuels.
