September 2026 sets record heat and drought levels in Spain and globally

climate change heatwave record temperatures El Niño meteorology

September 2026 has been recorded as the warmest September in Spain since meteorological records began in 1961. According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the average temperature in peninsular Spain reached 22.5 °C, an anomaly of +3.4 °C compared to the 1991-2020 reference period. Notably, this marks the first time a September has averaged higher than the normal summer temperature of 22.1 °C.

The month was also characterized by extreme dryness, with rainfall reaching only 36% of the usual amount. Multiple heatwaves were reported, including one in the Canary Islands where temperatures reached an anomaly of +6.5 °C on certain days.

On a global scale, the Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that September 2026 was the second warmest September on record, following September 2023. The 12-month average from October 2025 to September 2026 exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.50 °C. Additionally, El Niño activity in the tropical Pacific reached record sea surface temperatures, with the World Meteorological Organization forecasting a peak in December and continuation through February 2027.

Entities

AEMET · Copernicus Climate Change Service · Miteco · Sara Aagesen · Spain · World Meteorological Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] For the first time, the average temperature in September exceeded the normal summer average of 22.1 °C. www.cuadernosmanchegos.com · 24-ore.com · actualidadvalencia.com · entrevue.fr · www.lanzadigital.com
[● 5 SOURCES] September 2026 was the warmest September recorded in Spain since 1961. www.cuadernosmanchegos.com · 24-ore.com · actualidadvalencia.com · entrevue.fr · www.lanzadigital.com
[● 4 SOURCES] September 2026 was characterized by significant drought and low rainfall. www.cuadernosmanchegos.com · 24-ore.com · actualidadvalencia.com · entrevue.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] The 12-month average from October 2025 to September 2026 was 1.50°C above pre-industrial levels. yesilhaber.net · www.greenstyle.it
[● 5 SOURCES] The temperature anomaly was +3.4 °C compared to the 1991-2020 reference period. www.cuadernosmanchegos.com · 24-ore.com · actualidadvalencia.com · entrevue.fr · www.lanzadigital.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Globally, September 2026 was the second warmest September on record, surpassed only by September 2023. yesilhaber.net · www.greenstyle.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] El Niño is projected to peak in December and continue until February 2027. yesilhaber.net
[● 5 SOURCES] The average temperature in peninsular Spain reached 22.5 °C. www.cuadernosmanchegos.com · 24-ore.com · actualidadvalencia.com · entrevue.fr · www.lanzadigital.com