Global temperatures surpass +1.5 °C threshold in July 2026

Global temperatures in July 2026 have surpassed the critical +1.5 °C warming threshold compared to pre-industrial levels, marking the second hottest July since meteorological records began. Land temperatures rose by +2.03 °C, while ocean surface temperatures increased by +1.25 °C. Experts attribute this extreme heat to rising greenhouse gas concentrations and the lingering effects of El Niño.

In Hungary, Budapest experienced unprecedented heatwaves in 2026, with records broken twice. A June heatwave lasted 12 days, followed by a July heatwave that, despite being shorter at 9 days, reached a higher total heat sum. Researchers from the ELTE Meteorological Department note that since 2010, heatwaves have become significantly longer and more intense. There is an 89% certainty that human activity is responsible for the increased frequency of these domestic heatwaves.

Data from Berkeley Earth suggests a 69% probability that 2026 will be the warmest year on record, with a 99% chance that the annual global average temperature will exceed the +1.5 °C threshold.