This summer was hot. August shattered global heat records
NOAA and Copernicus climate services report that this summer was the hottest on record globally and in the U.S. The data highlights a consistent trend of rising temperatures and the impact of climate patterns like El Niño.
Why it matters
Record-breaking heat waves underscore the accelerating pace of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
If you thought this summer felt hotter than normal, you were right. Temperatures around the world were unusually warm, surpassing several heat records, including in the U.S.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week announced that for the Lower 48 states, this summer– from June to August– was the warmest in 132 years of record-keeping.
Globally, August ties with July 2023 as the hottest month on record, according to the European climate service, Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Climate Did climate change cause this heat wave? Most likely, and here's why In August, global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus. That's a key climate threshold agreed to by countries in 2015 . Record high sea surface temperatures were also seen across the Pacific Ocean as the climate pattern El Niño began to develop.
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