WMO Reports “Record-High Global Average Temperature and Sea Surface Temperature in August 2026”

On September 11, 2026, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that the global average temperature and sea surface temperature for August 2026 reached the highest levels ever recorded. The assessment is based on observational data from the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service (hereafter Copernicus), the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). During the month, the global average surface temperature was 1.65°C above preindustrial levels and 1.32°C above the twentieth-century average. All ten of the warmest Augusts on record have occurred since 2016. Sea surface temperatures reached 21.11°C, marking a new record high. According to the WMO, these records reflect the intensification of El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, with impacts expected to continue through 2027.