The essentials
August 2026 set global temperature records, exceeding 1.65°C above pre-industrial baseline levels.
August 2026 was the warmest month ever recorded globally, with temperatures exceeding 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels. Ocean surface temperatures reached record levels during the same period, contributing to the unprecedented heat.
The summer months of June through August tied 2024 as the warmest three-month period on record. Scientists indicate that the current period is likely the warmest in at least 125,000 years.
Regionally, the United States recorded its warmest summer in over 130 years, reflecting broader global warming trends observed across multiple climate metrics.
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Multiple climate metrics confirm August 2026 temperature records
August 2026 marked the warmest month ever recorded, with global temperatures exceeding 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels and ocean surface temperatures at record levels. Summer 2026 tied 2024 as the warmest three-month period on record. This period is likely the warmest in at least 125,000 years, based on available paleoclimate data.
Record heat observed globally and in regional measurements
While global temperatures exceeded 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels in August 2026, regional data shows the United States experienced its warmest summer in over 130 years. Ocean surface temperatures reached record levels, indicating widespread warming across both terrestrial and marine environments during the summer period.