UN agency says record global heat to continue into 2027
The gist
The WMO reported the past 12 years are the warmest on record, with January–September 2026 about 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels.
The report lands ahead of COP31 talks as a strong El Niño keeps pushing temperatures up.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026August 2026 was the warmest August globally on record at 16.96°C, 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average, and the joint-warmest month ever recorded, on par with July 2023. It was also the first month above 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average since November 2025.
- Oct 2026The contiguous U.S. had its fourth-warmest October in the 132-year record at 58.7°F, 4.6°F above the 20th-century average, with all 48 states above their baselines. October was the fourth consecutive month in which U.S. average nighttime minimum temperatures set a new monthly record.
- Nov 3, 2026U.S. drought coverage fell from 59% on September 29 to 44%, its lowest level since January 2026, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Key terms
- WMO
- A United Nations specialized agency promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics.
- COP31
- The 31st session of the UN climate change conference under the UNFCCC, where parties meet to negotiate climate action.
Source: Wikipedia