Washington, September August 2026 was the warmest August on record globally, according to the latest analysis from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), highlighting another month of exceptional temperatures and significant weather events around the world.

NOAA reported that global surface temperatures in August were 1.32°C above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous August record, which had been jointly held by 2023 and 2024. The June–August period was also the warmest such three-month period in NOAA’s record.

North America Records Exceptional Heat

North America experienced its warmest August on record, while the Northern Hemisphere as a whole recorded its warmest meteorological summer.

In the contiguous United States, August 2026 was also the warmest August in the country’s 132-year record. The average temperature reached 75.6°F, while the June–August period became the warmest meteorological summer on record for the contiguous U.S.

Several U.S. states recorded particularly extreme heat. California, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado each experienced their warmest August average temperatures on record, according to NOAA.

Heat Accompanied by Storms and Flooding

The exceptional warmth was accompanied by major weather events in different parts of the world. NOAA reported 19 tropical storms globally during August, including five that reached hurricane or typhoon intensity and four that became major systems.

Hurricane Lala brought heavy rainfall to Hawaii, while Super Typhoon Dolphin produced heavy rain and strong winds in parts of southern Japan and China. Historic rainfall was reported in parts of China.

The United States also experienced contrasting weather conditions. While much of the country was unusually warm, some regions received substantially above-average rainfall, while parts of the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley experienced significant dryness.

Sea Ice Remains Below Average

NOAA also reported that global sea-ice coverage was the fourth-smallest for August in its 48-year record. Both Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice extent were below their respective long-term averages.

The combination of record warmth, reduced sea ice and intense weather events underscores the continuing importance of monitoring global climate conditions.

NOAA’s latest global assessment provides a broad picture of the climate extremes recorded during August 2026, with the agency’s climate maps illustrating where unusually high temperatures, storms and other significant weather events occurred around the world.