Global temperatures reached a new record high in August, with an average surface air temperature of 62.5 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing previous highs set in 2023 and 2024. This is the first month since January 2025 that global temperatures have exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial average, reaching a level of 1.65 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 mark. The record-breaking month was due to the combined effects of El Niño and human-caused climate change, which has been driving extreme temperatures globally. This marks the joint-warmest month for the planet across all calendar months, tied with July 2023. Climate scientists are warning that these conditions are a sign of the devastating impacts of climate change, including record-breaking heatwaves, severe droughts, and wildfires. The world's ocean temperatures also hit a record high in August, with scientists predicting they will continue to rise as El Niño reaches its peak.
