July Ties as World's Second-Hottest Month on Record

The UN WMO reports July 2026 tied 2024 as the second-warmest July on record, with global temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels and ocean heat at record levels—amid heatwaves, drought, wildfires and floods worldwide. WMO says global temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels; oceans hit record July heat Extreme heat, drought, wildfires and floods keep world on weather alert Western Europe endures hottest June-July period on record amid fourth heatwave Warns El Niño could push global temperatures higher in coming months UNITED NATIONS: July 2026 tied with 2024 as the second-warmest July globally on record, behind 2023, with average temperatures reaching 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels and ocean surface temperatures hitting their highest-ever level for the month, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a Geneva-based UN agency. The heatwave has continued into August, with extreme weather events including heatwaves, drought, wildfires, heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones keeping meteorological and emergency response agencies on high alert across several parts of the world. Although August marks the height of the vacation season across Europe and other parts of the northern hemisphere, WMO Spokesperson Clare Nullis said many workers were 'not getting a break' as national meteorological and hydrological services, emergency management and response teams and health professionals continued working 'tirelessly' in response to extreme weather. 'And it's not just extreme heat,' she told journalists in Geneva. 'We're also seeing extreme rainfall, tropical cyclones. So, we're not in holiday mode at all.' Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, while some countries, including Switzerland and France, are now facing their fourth heatwave of the summer. 'Intense drought is really biting,' Ms. Nullis said, warning of devastating impacts on agriculture, harvests, transport, energy supplies and river levels. The combination of drought and high temperatures is also increasing the risk of wildfires. The extreme heat is not confined to Europe, with Japan and the Republic of Korea recording exceptional and record-breaking temperatures last week. Other parts of Asia, the Middle East and Latin America have also experienced severe heat. John Kennedy, WMO's head of climate information, said low rainfall combined with high temperatures had contributed to 'drought, low river levels, and increased risk of wildfires', including reduced flows in major European rivers such as the Seine, Rhine and Danube. Wildfire activity has also intensified, Ms. Nullis said, noting that 'last month saw exceptional wildfire activity across western Europe' both in terms of the area burned and emissions. According to fire emissions data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, year-to-date emissions in France are comparable to, or higher than, levels recorded during the extreme fire years of 2022 and 2023, she said. France is on course to experience one of its most extreme fire years of the past 24 years, while fire emissions in neighbouring Spain are also well above average for this time of year. In North America, wildfires are raging across parts of the western United States, while Canada had 591 active fires as of Monday, including 43 classified as out of control. However, Ms. Nullis stressed that 'it's not all about heat', as heavy monsoon rainfall and flooding are affecting parts of West Africa. The WMO produces a weekly Global Hydromet Scan for humanitarian agencies. Its latest issue warned of heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides this week in eastern Pakistan, northeast and western India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and some parts of Southeast Asia. China also carried out mass evacuations ahead of the landfall of Typhoon Dolphin over the weekend—the 13th tropical cyclone of the season—amid a series of recent weather warnings. Mr. Kennedy said recent extreme weather events reflected 'the combined effect of long-term warming with a persistent pattern of alternating high and low-pressure systems stretching across the northern hemisphere.' He explained that high-pressure systems are typically associated with hotter and drier conditions because descending air warms and reduces cloud formation, allowing more sunlight to reach the surface. Such systems can also block cooler air from moving in and persist for days or even weeks. With El Niño now established in the Pacific, the WMO expects a further rise in global temperatures, with the global temperature peak typically following the El Niño peak, which usually occurs between November and January. Against this backdrop, the WMO and its member countries are working to strengthen forecasting and early-warning systems to help communities prepare for increasingly extreme weather. Ms. Nullis stressed that the Early Warnings for All initiative 'remains the overriding priority.'