Weather
Global Weather Alert: August 2026 Becomes Earth’s Warmest August on Record, NOAA Says
Washington, D.C. – August 2026 became the warmest August ever measured globally, pushing tempe…
By Erin Vale · 2026-09-10T18:22:12.126Z
Washington, D.C. – August 2026 became the warmest August ever measured globally, pushing temperatures beyond the previous record and adding another major heat milestone as El Niño persisted across the tropical Pacific.
According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, the global temperature topped the previous August record, jointly held by 2023 and 2024, by 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0.08 Celsius. NOAA’s global temperature percentile map shows much above average to record warmth covering large portions of the world.
The Northern Hemisphere also recorded its warmest summer, while global land temperatures ranked near record levels for both August and the June through August period. The Southern Hemisphere recorded a near record warm winter.
Across the United States, NOAA’s map indicates much of the country experienced above average August temperatures, although the intensity varied by region. The broader global pattern was especially pronounced across parts of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
El Niño remained in place during August, with record high temperatures extending across large sections of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extent also finished below average.
Tropical activity added another significant marker. NOAA counted 19 tropical storms worldwide during August, putting global tropical cyclone activity above average.
The new data confirms August’s record after the month ended, rather than signaling a short term heat alert. NOAA will continue tracking whether exceptional global warmth persists into the Northern Hemisphere fall.