August 2026 Was the Warmest August on Record: What NOAA and the WMO Found

The planet just set another heat record. According to NOAA, August 2026 was the warmest August in the 177-year record, with global surface temperatures 1.32°C (2.38°F) above the 20th-century average. That beat the previous August records, set in 2023 and 2024, by 0.08°C (0.14°F).

Oceans hit an all-time high

Global ocean temperatures reached an all-time high, while land temperatures were near record. The World Meteorological Organization said on September 11 that sea surface temperatures hit 21.11°C, a new record, and that the global average was 1.65°C above preindustrial levels. All ten of the warmest Augusts on record have occurred since 2016. No land or ocean areas had record-cold August temperatures.

El Niño is turning up the heat

Both agencies link the records to El Niño, which has been strengthening in the tropical Pacific, with record warmth across large areas of the central and eastern Pacific. The WMO expects its effects to continue into 2027. June to August was also the warmest such three-month period on record.

What it means for 2026

From January to August, 2026 ranks as the second-warmest year on record so far. NOAA says it is very likely to finish among the five warmest years, with the highest probability on second place. Global sea ice extent in August was also the fourth smallest in the 48-year satellite record. A WMO outlook published in May found that one year between 2026 and 2030 is likely to surpass 2024 as the warmest on record, and its lead author noted that the El Niño forecast for the end of 2026 raises the chances that 2027 will be a record year.

Quick FAQ

Was August 2026 a record? Yes, the warmest August in NOAA's 1850 to 2026 record.

Will 2026 be the hottest year ever? Not likely. NOAA says second place is the most probable result.

What is driving the heat? Long-term warming plus a strengthening El Niño.

Sources: NOAA Global Climate Report for August 2026 and the World Meteorological Organization.