August 2026 Was the Hottest Month Ever Recorded: Copernicus Data
Copernicus climate data confirms that August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded globally, tying with July 2023. The report highlights the role of climate change and El Niño in driving extreme temperatures and deadly heatwaves.
Why it matters
Record-breaking global temperatures have significant implications for public health, environmental stability, and global economic policy.
August was the planet’s hottest month ever recorded, capping a remarkably grim summer of heat records. With El Niño strengthening—and climate change continuing to heat things up—more records are likely in store well into next year.
Data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate agency, shows that last month tied with July 2023 for Earth’s hottest month. (July is also usually the hottest month of the year.) This July also tied with July of 2024 for the second-hottest July on record, while June 2026 was the second-hottest June ever recorded. The news comes on the heels of a separate announcement on Wednesday from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which declared this was the hottest summer for the US, beating a previous record set during the Dust Bowl.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Scientists say August was Earth's hottest month they've measured
August Was World's Joint-Hottest Month On Record, Say Scientists
August was joint hottest month on record, says European climate agency
August world's joint hottest month on record
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