September 10, 2026 | World News

The world has just experienced one of the hottest months ever recorded, as new climate data shows August 2026 tied the record for the highest global average temperature for any month.

According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average global surface air temperature during August reached 16.96°C (62.5°F).

Temperatures Crossed a Major Threshold

August was approximately 1.65°C warmer than the average temperature during the pre-industrial era, before widespread industrial use of coal, oil and gas.

It was also the first month since November 2025 in which the global monthly average exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

That does not mean the Paris Agreement’s long-term 1.5°C threshold has formally been crossed, because that target is measured over decades rather than a single month.

Extreme Weather Hit Countries Around the World

The exceptional temperatures came alongside destructive weather events in several regions.

Wildfires affected parts of Europe and Asia, while Hungary and Romania experienced severe drought. Western Europe also emerged from what Copernicus data showed was its hottest summer on record, with unusually low river levels and dry soils creating additional problems for agriculture.

Scientists have also been examining the role climate change played in deadly floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet.

Oceans Were Exceptionally Warm Too

The heat wasn’t limited to land.

Ocean surface temperatures outside the polar regions also tied the record for the highest level observed during any month, according to Copernicus.

Meanwhile, the developing El Niño pattern in the tropical Pacific could contribute to additional warming in the coming months.

For scientists, the latest figures provide another indication of how rapidly Earth’s climate is changing — and how extreme heat is increasingly affecting everyday life around the world.

Source: Reuters / Copernicus Climate Change Service — September 10, 2026.