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Global temperatures hit record highs as El Niño strengthens: Report

Global temperatures hit record highs as El Niño strengthens: Report

Summary

Global average temperatures reached the highest levels on record in August 2026, driven in part by a strong El Niño weather pattern. This marks the warmest August and one of the hottest months ever recorded, with global warming continuing due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Facts

  • August 2026 was the warmest August on record globally, with an average surface temperature of 62.5°F.
  • This August tied with July 2023 as the joint warmest month in the global record since 1940.
  • Global temperatures in August were 1.65°C (2.97°F) above the pre-industrial average from 1850-1900, exceeding the 1.5°C limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
  • Record high global ocean surface temperatures were also recorded in August 2026, reaching 69.98°F.
  • The warming trend is influenced by both the El Niño climate pattern and ongoing human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
  • In the United States, summer 2026 was the warmest meteorological summer on record, surpassing previous highs from 1936 and 2021.
  • Scientists warn these rising temperatures affect communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide.
  • El Niño contributes to short-term temperature spikes but is not the only cause of the rising global average temperatures.
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