August 2026 Just Tied the Record for the Hottest Month on Earth

New data is confirming that it truly was hotter than normal this summer. Here is a look at the recent analysis and what it means for the future.

More Data Confirms Planet is Warming to Historical Levels

August 2026 officially tied July 2023 as the hottest month ever recorded across the world. Climatologists say that the intensification of  El Niño and sizzling ocean waters sent global temperatures into record territory.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global average surface air temperature hit 62.5 degrees Fahrenheit in August. This average was good enough to tie with July of 2023 as the warmest month dating back to 1940.

What is really interesting is that August came in at 0.1 degrees warmer than July 2026. This is unusual because July is historically the hottest month of the year on the planet. Copernicus data indicates that there have only been four other years since 1940 when August eclipsed July for overall heat.

The average temperature in August ended up registering 2.97 degrees higher than the pre-industrial global average from 1850 to 1900. This statistic exemplifies how global warming due to an increased reliance on fossil fuels is sending temperatures higher and higher. While the news is dire, scientists note that one month above the normal threshold does not mean that the planet has officially crossed the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over a longer period.

Much of the heating came from the world's oceans. The average sea-surface temperature measured between 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south hit 69.9 degrees, tying March 2024 for the top monthly ocean temperature recorded on any given month. Notably, the daily global sea surface reading hit a record 70 degrees on August 24 and 25.