Environment

August Tied as World’s Hottest Month On Record, Scientists Say

The figure exceeded the 1.5°C threshold outlined in the Paris climate agreement, highlighting the continuing impact of global warming.

, and TIPP Staff

September 9, 2026 . 11:39 PM

2 min read

August was world’s joint-hottest month on record, scientists say. Pic via(@straits_times)

August tied the record for the world’s hottest month, with global temperatures reaching about 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, according to European climate service Copernicus.

The figure exceeded the 1.5°C threshold outlined in the Paris climate agreement, highlighting the continuing impact of global warming.

Scientists said El Niño contributed to the elevated temperatures but emphasized that greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels remain the dominant driver. El Niño typically adds only a fraction of a degree to global temperatures.

💡

The Northern Hemisphere also experienced its hottest summer on record. In the United States, average summer temperatures reached 23.54°C, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reporting that the Lower 48 had a hotter summer than during the peak of the 1936 Dust Bowl.

Climate scientists warned that extreme heat is increasingly disrupting daily life through school closures, pressure on hospitals and infrastructure failures. Berkeley Earth scientist Zeke Hausfather said 2026 could surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record, with 2027 potentially becoming even hotter.

Related Tweet: