Only July 2023 was as warm as August 2026. The average global temperature was 16.96 degrees, exceeding the previous records from 2023 and 2024. It is also the first time since November 2025 that the temperature has been more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
This has to do with long-term global warming caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is the main reason why it is getting warmer over time, says Erik Kjellström, professor of climatology at SMHI.
No wonder with a record-hot August
On top of that, a strong El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean, which is also contributing to higher global average temperatures.
The fact that the record was broken in August is not that surprising, according to Kjellström.
There is also an annual cycle in the Earth's average temperature. During the Northern Hemisphere summer, temperatures are highest, as it is the land masses there that warm up the most, which is why it is always the warmest then.
The oceans have also been unusually warm. In August, the average sea surface temperature exceeded 21.1 degrees in the ocean areas between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north, also a record.
August marked the end of the warmest summer on record in southwestern Europe, which was plagued by heatwaves that resulted in forest fires and water shortages. However, it was only the third warmest summer on record for Europe as a whole.
Probably with more records
El Niño will contribute to global temperatures being high throughout the autumn and winter and well into next year, according to Kjellström.
It is very likely that next year will be the warmest year ever observed.
Kjellström also emphasizes that temperature records will continue to be broken as long as emissions are not controlled.
