WORLD NEWS
August 2026 was the warmest August on record
The month was 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 August average and 1.65°C above the estimated 1850–1900 level. Across all calendar months it was effectively tied with July 2023 at 16.95°C.
The difference between those two months was under 0.01°C and within uncertainty. A global mean also does not describe every region or person’s weather.
August versus July
July is normally the warmest global month. Before 2026, ERA5 records since 1940 had only four years in which August was warmer than July.
Twelve months
September 2025–August 2026 averaged 0.60°C above 1991–2020 and 1.48°C above pre-industrial conditions. Long-term thresholds require longer periods and multiple datasets.
Season
June–August tied 2024 as the warmest boreal summer globally. Ocean, rainfall and sea-ice indicators use different domains and should not all be given the same rank.
Drivers and limits
Human-caused long-term warming combined with a strong El Niño and natural variability. ERA5 blends observations and modelling; other agencies may report slightly different numbers.
Next check
Compare NOAA and NASA monthly records and year-end assessments. Multi-year trends and local hazards matter more for planning than one monthly rank.
Primary source and independent checks
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