Europe's record heat wave claims over 30,000 lives this summer
Record European heat wave caused 30,000+ excess deaths, exposing climate's deadly humanitarian impact.
Event / Science
Global Temperature Record August 2026
August 2026 recorded the highest global average temperature since modern record-keeping began in 1940 (16.96°C), with temperatures matching or exceeding levels last seen 125,000 years ago. Western Europe experienced its warmest summer in recorded history with over 30,000 excess deaths. Ocean surface temperatures reached unprecedented levels, and global temperatures exceeded the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C threshold for the first time since November 2025.
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2026-09-10 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Sept, 07:00 UTC
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What happened
Ocean surface temperatures reached record levels in August 2026
The average monthly surface temperature of oceans outside polar regions reached its highest level ever recorded in August 2026, tying with March 2024.
Summer 2026 (June-August) tied 2024 as warmest three-month period on record
The three-month period from June to August 2026 was the warmest such period ever recorded globally, tying with the same period in 2024, according to Copernicus meteorological data.
United States recorded warmest summer in over 130 years
The United States recorded its warmest summer in more than 130 years of meteorological records, according to the American meteorological agency.
Western Europe recorded warmest summer in its history
Western Europe experienced its warmest summer on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2003. The region endured successive waves of exceptionally early, persistent, and intense heat. Average air temperature across the continent in August was 20.26°C, approximately 1.10°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the third warmest summer on record for the continent overall.
Current period likely warmest in at least 125,000 years
Scientific analysis of climate data spanning 125,000 years indicates the current period is probably the warmest the Earth has experienced during this entire timespan.
Extreme temperatures affected Northern Hemisphere cities in summer 2026
Cities across the Northern Hemisphere including New York, Tokyo, Rome, and New Delhi experienced extreme temperatures during summer 2026, disrupting daily life for delivery workers, construction workers, beachgoers, and vulnerable populations.
Global temperature in August 2026 exceeded 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels
The global average temperature in August 2026 was 1.65°C above pre-industrial baseline levels, exceeding the Paris Agreement's most ambitious target of 1.5°C. This was the first time since November 2025 that monthly temperatures exceeded this threshold, though the 1.5°C target is measured as a long-term average.
August 2026 was the warmest month ever recorded globally
August 2026 recorded a global average air temperature of 16.96°C, making it the warmest month in recorded history according to Copernicus data dating back to 1940. July 2023 was the second warmest at 16.95°C, with the two months considered statistically equivalent due to the narrow margin between them.
Over 30,000 excess deaths recorded in Europe during summer 2026
Provisional data from EuroMomo platform, covering statistical reports from 23 European countries and health authorities, recorded over 30,000 excess deaths by late August 2026, attributed to the extreme heat conditions.
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Global temperatures hit record highs in August 2026
August 2026 set global temperature records, exceeding 1.65°C above pre-industrial baseline levels.