August 2026 ties as hottest month on record globally
August was the joint hottest month ever recorded globally, with temperatures 1.65 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
European climate scientists have confirmed that August 2026 was the joint hottest month ever recorded, matching the temperatures seen in July 2023. Global average temperatures were 1.65 degrees above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the 1.5 degree target that governments have pledged to keep within.
The record comes as wildfires raged across Europe and the United States, and major rivers such as the Rhine and the Danube ran low. Satellite data going back to 1940 show that the heat was felt across the planet, not just in the UK and Europe. Sea surface temperatures also broke records, and because oceans cover about 70% of the Earth's surface, that has a significant effect on air temperatures.
There were regional variations. In France, temperatures were 4 degrees above the seasonal norm, while in Turkey they were slightly lower than usual.
Scientists say the vast majority of the warming is caused by human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. The El Nino phenomenon, which warms parts of the Pacific Ocean, is also playing a role, but its full impact may not be felt until later this year or even next year. Some researchers warn that global temperatures could reach 2 degrees of warming within the next year, which would bring more extreme weather.
The findings underline the urgency of the climate crisis, with experts calling for stronger action to cut emissions and adapt to a warmer world.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| August 2026 tied July 2023 as the hottest month on record globally. | |
| El Nino could push global warming to 2 degrees next year. | |
| France saw temperatures 4 degrees above normal. | |
| Global temperatures in August 2026 were 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. | |
| The warming was attributed mainly to human activity, particularly fossil fuel burning. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel provided a detailed scientific explanation, focusing on the causes and likely consequences. It highlighted the role of fossil fuels and El Nino, and warned of more extreme weather ahead. It also stressed that this is a global issue, not just a UK/Europe problem.
- “We know it was hot here last month, of course we do, but we now know that that was the case right across the planet.”
- “These are global temperatures and we're talking about not just the hottest month, the hottest August, but the hottest month and joint ever recorded.”
- “Well, scientists say the vast majority is a result of global warming. So it's the fossil fuels were burning in the atmosphere. It is us, yes.”
The channel reported the record briefly, focusing on the global temperature figure and regional variations, particularly France's 4 degrees above normal and Turkey's slightly cooler conditions. It did not delve into causes or future projections, instead moving on to other news.
- “It won't surprise anyone to know that the records for this summer's weather keep on being broken.”
- “European climate scientists say August was the world's joint hottest month, tied with July of 2023.”
- “As wildfires in France helped to illustrate, temperatures there were 4 degrees above where they should be, hence the darker red here on this heat map.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.