2026 Global Temperatures Rank Second Hottest June on Record

According to the European Copernicus climate service, June 2026 recorded a temperature anomaly of +1.39 °C above pre‑industrial levels, making it the second‑warmest June since instrumental records began. The year 2026 moved from fifth to second place in the historical ranking of global temperature anomalies, with earlier months also ranking among the warmest on record.

A strengthening El Niño in the equatorial Pacific is expected to increase the likelihood of new temperature records in late 2026 and especially in 2027. The heat was most pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere, with anomalies of 3 °C to 5 °C in Central Asia, western Siberia, northern Canada, Africa and Europe, contributing to a severe heat wave in Europe and accelerated melt of Alpine glaciers. In contrast, parts of South America experienced cooler anomalies, and the western Antarctic Peninsula saw notable warming.

These observations underscore the ongoing impact of rising greenhouse‑gas concentrations and highlight the role of extreme weather events such as El Niño in amplifying global warming trends.