Published on: 2026-08-11
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 11, 2026 Climate and Environment
Last month was the second hottest July globally in the entire history of observations, and the sea surface temperature of the World Ocean reached a record level for this month. Extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and floods continue to cause serious damage to people, the economy, and ecosystems worldwide. This was reported today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
According to the European Climate Change Service “Copernicus,” the average global air temperature at the Earth’s surface in July was 1.47 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average (1850–1900).
The heat continues to break records
At the same time, Western Europe experienced the hottest period from June to July in the history of observations. Waves of extreme heat continue into August – some countries are already experiencing their fourth wave since May.
High temperatures, extremely low soil moisture, and drought have a devastating impact on ecosystems, agriculture, river water levels, transport, and energy, while simultaneously increasing the risk of forest fires.
According to the French national meteorological service, extreme heat is expected across almost the entire country this week, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius in many areas. The Swiss meteorological service has declared an “orange” level of danger due to expected temperatures above 35 degrees in the second half of the week. In the United Kingdom, according to the national meteorological service forecast, by August 13, air temperatures in some areas of southern England may reach 36 degrees.
At the beginning of August, temperature records were broken in Central European countries and the Balkans. Record heat was also observed in Japan, the Republic of Korea, several other Asian countries, the Middle East, and Latin America.
At the same time, the average temperature in July for the entire European continent ranked only eleventh in the entire history of observations, due to cooler weather in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
Forest Fires
In July, Western Europe experienced exceptional intensity of forest fires both in terms of the area burned and the volume of emissions.
According to the Copernicus program, the volume of emissions from forest fires in France since the beginning of 2026 is already comparable to or exceeds the figures from the extreme seasons of 2022 and 2023, and may make this year one of the most severe in the past 24 years. In Spain, emissions from forest fires also significantly exceed the average values for this time of year.
Large fires continue in the western United States as well. In Canada, according to the Canadian Forest Fire Information System, 591 active wildfires have been registered, of which 43 remain uncontrolled.
Global warming and atmospheric processes
According to John Kennedy, head of the WMO climate information department, the current situation is due to a combination of long-term global warming and persistent circulation of high and low pressure areas covering the Northern Hemisphere.
© WMO/E. Mitchell Strong storm in the United States.
“High-pressure areas are usually associated with hot and dry weather, while low-pressure areas are linked to cooler and wetter conditions,” he explained.
According to Kennedy, such high-pressure areas can persist for several weeks. In June, they caused extreme heat in Central Asia, North America, and Western Europe. In July and early August, a similar pattern was observed in the same regions, as well as in some parts of East Asia.
Record warm ocean
According to the monthly bulletin of the Copernicus service, July recorded the highest ocean surface temperature ever observed for this month outside of the polar regions.
Exceptionally high temperatures were observed over a significant part of the tropical Pacific Ocean, where El Niño conditions persist and are expected to intensify in the coming months.
Off the coast of Europe, a record-high temperature of the Atlantic Ocean and the western part of the Mediterranean Sea was accompanied by large-scale and locally very intense marine heatwaves.
Drought in some regions, floods in others
Drought has persisted and intensified in many regions of Western Europe. Especially low precipitation and soil moisture levels were recorded in France, Spain, some areas of Germany, the United Kingdom, and the eastern part of Europe. Due to the drought, water levels in many rivers were significantly below normal. The Seine, Rhine, and Danube were particularly affected, impacting water supply, agricultural irrigation, and electricity production.
Outside Europe, precipitation was below normal in northern Canada, central USA, the Maghreb countries, parts of the Horn of Africa, Siberia, southern Central Asia, certain areas of China, as well as in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Brazil.
At the same time, the amount of precipitation exceeded average values in the eastern USA and northern Mexico, in Alaska and Canada, in eastern Russia, Afghanistan, certain areas of the Indian subcontinent, eastern China and Japan, as well as in Chile and southern Brazil.
Also read:
The UN warns: the world is entering a period of unprecedented heat
Flooding has been recorded, in particular, in the USA, Chile, Brazil, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China. In West Africa, heavy monsoon rains accompanied by flooding continue.
The WMO has warned of the risk of heavy and very heavy rains, sudden floods, and landslides in northeastern and western India, eastern Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and some Southeast Asian countries.
In India, monsoon floods have already claimed the lives of dozens of people. According to the country’s meteorological department, very heavy rains are expected this week in central and northwestern regions of India, as well as in the Himalayas. Additionally, around August 12, a new low-pressure area is expected to form in the Bay of Bengal, which will bring intense precipitation to the eastern coast of the country.
In China, ahead of the landfall of Typhoon “Dolphin” – the thirteenth of the current season and one of the longest-lasting – mass evacuations of the population were carried out. The national meteorological administration issued numerous warnings related to strong winds, heavy rains, and the danger of coastal and inland flooding.
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