August recorded hottest month on record; global average 16.96°C
Average global temperature reached 16.96°C in August — 1.65°C above pre‑industrial levels, with record ocean heat and immediate impacts.
Earth recorded its warmest month on record in August, driven by a combination of human-caused climate change and a strong El Niño event, the European climate service reported. The month pushed the planet past a key threshold tied to long-term climate goals.
The average global temperature in August measured 16.96 degrees Celsius. That is technically 0.01° higher than the previous record set in July 2023, but because of statistical uncertainty it is treated as an effectively equal result, said the head of climate strategy, Samanta Bardzis.
How far above pre‑industrial levels?
On a longer timescale, August’s global average was 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre‑industrial levels, substantially exceeding the 1.5°C limit referenced in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Scientists also note that all eight of the hottest months in the instrumental record have occurred since July 2023.
The consequences were tangible: authorities reported disruptions such as school closures, overburdened health services, melting road surfaces and deformed railway tracks as heat affected infrastructure and public services.
Sea surface temperatures also reached extreme values in August, matching the record set in March 2024, and 22 August was recorded as the hottest day for the surface of the world’s seas.
Climate experts stress that the current heat levels reflect both the long-term warming trend from greenhouse gases and the amplifying effect of El Niño, producing an acute peak in temperatures with immediate societal impacts.
Photo: СДК.МК)
