Oceans reach hottest June on record as El Niño threatens higher temperatures
Summary
The world’s oceans reached their hottest June ever in 2026, according to European scientists. The arrival of the El Niño weather pattern, combined with human-caused climate change, could cause even higher sea and air temperatures in the near future.Key Facts
- Global average sea surface temperature in June 2026 was 20.98°C, the highest on record.
- This broke previous records set in 2023 and 2024.
- The first half of 2026 had near-record ocean warmth with widespread marine heatwaves affecting 82% of the oceans.
- El Niño causes unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean, influencing global weather and increasing heat in oceans and the atmosphere.
- El Niño can lead to extreme weather like floods, droughts, and wildfires in different parts of the world.
- The combined effects of El Niño and greenhouse gases from human activities are expected to push 2026 among the warmest years recorded.
- Warmer oceans contribute to rising sea levels, stronger storms, and stress on coral reefs, which can bleach and die.
- Oceans absorb about 90% of the extra heat caused by greenhouse gases, playing a key role in Earth’s climate system.
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