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September 10, 2026
August Highlights:
- August was the warmest on record for the globe, eclipsing the previous tied records of 2023 and 2024 by 0.14°F (0.08°C). The June–August three-month season was also record-warm.
- Global sea surface temperature reached an all-time high in August.
- El Niño conditions persisted during the month, driving record-high temperatures across vast areas of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
- Global land surface temperature was near-record warm for August and June–August.
- The Northern Hemisphere experienced its warmest summer, while the Southern Hemisphere had a near-record warm winter.
- The Arctic and Antarctic had a below-average sea ice extent.
- Global tropical cyclone activity was above average with 19 tropical storms.
Temperature
The global surface temperature in August 2026 was 2.38°F (1.32°C) above the 20th-century average—the warmest August in the 1850–2026 record, eclipsing the previous tied records set in 2023 and 2024 by 0.14°F (0.08°C). It marked the 48th-consecutive August with global temperatures above the 20th-century average (the last below-average August occurred in 1978), and all 10 of the warmest Augusts on record have occurred since 2016. Global ocean temperatures set a new record high, while global land temperatures were near-record warm.
During August 2026, above-average temperatures covered most global land and ocean surfaces. Notable temperature departures of at least +3.6°F (+2.0°C) spanned Europe, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, parts of North and South America, North Pacific Ocean, and a vast area of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (consistent with ongoing El Niño conditions). Record-high August temperatures were mainly present across Greenland, Africa, and parts of Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Canadian Arctic oceans as well as extensive areas of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
Below-average temperatures were limited to parts of the Arctic, eastern Russia and Antarctica. However, no land or ocean areas had record-cold August temperatures.
Regionally, most continents experienced a top-10 warmest August on record. North America and Africa both experienced their warmest August on record, while Asia experienced its second-warmest August. The Arctic recorded its third-warmest August, followed by South America and Europe each recording their fourth-warmest. Oceania had its eighth warmest, while Antarctica experienced an above-average August, its rank fell outside its top 10.
Seasonal
Globally, the average surface temperature from June–August 2026 was the highest (+2.18°F / +1.21°C) in NOAA’s 177-year record. The June–August period marks the meteorological summer for the Northern Hemisphere and winter for the Southern Hemisphere.
During this three-month period, the Northern Hemisphere experienced its warmest meteorological summer, while the Southern Hemisphere experienced its second-warmest meteorological winter.Year-to-date
Looking at the year-to-date, the January–August global surface temperature was second highest on record. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2026 will rank among the five warmest years on record, with the highest probabilities favoring the second-warmest year on record.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was the fourth smallest for August in the 48-year record, covering 8.50 million square miles, which is 870,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The Arctic had its 11th-lowest August extent on record, falling 340,000 square miles below average. Meanwhile, the Antarctic sea extent was 530,000 square miles below average and the third-smallest August extent.
Tropical Cyclones
Global tropical cyclone activity was above average in August, producing 19 tropical storms. Of those, five reached hurricane or typhoon intensity, with four attaining major status (Category 3 or higher). Driven by ongoing El Niño conditions, activity varied by basin. The Atlantic was unusually quiet, producing two weak, short-lived tropical storms: Cristobal and Dolly. In contrast, warmer waters across the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean fueled the development of eight named storms across the Eastern North Pacific basin. Of note, Hurricane Lala passed near the Big Island of Hawaii as a Category 1 hurricane. Although Lala remained offshore, it was the first storm in decades to bring hurricane-strength conditions to Hawaii’s Big Island. Torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding and mudslides across the region.
The West Pacific basin also had an above-average month with nine storms. Notably, Super Typhoon Dolphin brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of southern Japan and China. The storm brought historic rainfall to parts of China.
No storms formed in the North Indian Ocean nor in the Southern Hemisphere basins, which is typical during this time of year.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our August 2026 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.