August 2026 Was The Warmest August Ever Recorded Globally

August 2026 has officially gone down as the warmest August ever recorded worldwide, matching July 2023 as the joint warmest month ever observed globally.

The latest climate data also shows that the period between June and August 2026 was the joint warmest northern hemisphere summer on record, equalling 2024.

Europe continued to experience exceptional heat throughout the season. Summer 2026 ranked as the third warmest ever recorded across the continent and the warmest on record for western Europe.

The season was also marked by widespread dry conditions. Much of Europe experienced very low rainfall, exceptionally dry soils and reduced river flows, with drought conditions shifting eastwards as the summer progressed.

Although heavy rainfall towards the end of August brought localised flooding in some areas, it provided only limited relief from the prolonged dry spell.

Meanwhile, Arctic sea ice remained well below average. August 2026 recorded the 12th lowest Arctic sea ice extent for the month, with particularly low ice cover in parts of the Russian Arctic.

As the ice approached its annual minimum at the end of August, it ranked as the 13th lowest extent ever recorded for that time of year.

#MaltaDaily