Environment

September 2026 Was Globally the Second-Warmest on Record

Anadolu · 3 hours ago · Read the Full Story on Anadolu
September 2026 Was Globally the Second-Warmest on Record
AI SUMMARY

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that September 2026 was the second-warmest September globally, with temperatures reaching 1.63C above pre-industrial levels.

  • September 2026 ranked as the second-warmest September on record globally.
  • Global average surface air temperatures reached 1.63C above pre-industrial levels, marking the second consecutive month exceeding the 1.5C threshold.
  • The global average surface air temperature was 16.27C, which is 0.82C above the 1991-2020 average.
  • Director Carlo Buontempo stated that intensifying El Nino conditions mean temperatures are likely to remain above 1.5C into 2027.
  • Europe recorded its third-warmest September with land temperatures averaging 16.26C, while Western Europe tied with 2023 for its warmest September at 2.51C above average.
  • Extra-polar ocean sea surface temperatures reached 21.05C in September, the highest level recorded for the month.
  • Prolonged dry conditions and droughts caused exceptionally low river flows in parts of the Rhine, Danube, Vistula, and Garonne-Dordogne.
  • Below-average precipitation affected regions outside Europe including parts of North and South America, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Siberia, Central Asia, Pakistan, China, and southeastern Australia.
  • Antarctic sea ice reached its third-lowest annual winter maximum, sitting about 6% below the September average.
  • Arctic monthly sea ice extent was approximately 10% below average, ranking as the 14th lowest summer minimum in the satellite record.