NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsSeptember 10, 2026Hillsborough County
Earth and U.S. Record Hottest August and Summer Amid Climate Change and El Nino
Photo: ABC Action News (WFTS) — News
Earth recorded its hottest month on record in August, tying the global mark set in July 2023, while the contiguous United States experienced its hottest summer ever measured, surpassing records from the 1936 Dust Bowl. Climate scientists attribute the extreme temperatures to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions combined with a supersized El Nino.
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsWhy It Matters
Global temperatures exceeding pre-industrial thresholds drive more frequent heat waves, storms, floods, and wildfires that disrupt daily life, infrastructure, health systems, and household costs.
Key Facts
- The world averaged 62.53 degrees Fahrenheit (16.96 degrees Celsius) in August, tying the global mark set in July 2023.
- August was 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
- The contiguous United States summer averaged 74.37 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in 1936.
- Global monthly ocean temperatures in August tied a March 2024 record for warmest month recorded.
- August 22 set a record for the hottest day recorded in the world's seas according to Copernicus.
- Copernicus climate data goes back to 1940, while NOAA data for the United States dates back to 1895.
- Scientists attribute the primary cause of warming to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil, and natural gas, amplified by El Nino.
Who's Mentioned
PersonSamantha Burgess“Strategic climate lead for Copernicus”PersonZeke Hausfather“Berkeley Earth climate scientist”OrganizationCopernicus“European climate service reporting global temperature data”OrganizationU.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration“Announced U.S. temperature records”PersonFriederike Otto“Climate scientist at Imperial College London”PersonAndrew Dessler“Texas A&M University climate scientist”PersonSimon Stiell“United Nations climate chief”PersonKatharine Hayhoe“Texas Tech climate scientist”