Copernicus reports September 2026 as second warmest on record

September 2026 was recorded as the second warmest September globally, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average global temperature reached 16.27 degrees Celsius, which is 0.82 degrees above the 1991–2020 average. This marks the second consecutive month where global temperatures remained 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In Europe, September was the third warmest on record, with an average temperature of 16.26 degrees Celsius. Western Europe experienced its warmest September ever. Sea surface temperatures reached a record high for the month at 21.05 degrees Celsius, while Antarctic sea ice reached its third-lowest winter maximum.

Persistent drought conditions affected much of Western, Central, and parts of Eastern Europe, leading to critically low water levels in major rivers including the Rhine, Danube, Vistula, and Garonne-Dordogne. These conditions caused disruptions to river navigation, water supply, and agriculture. While some rainfall provided local relief in Northern Europe and Turkey toward the end of the month, 2026 currently ranks as the second warmest year on record.