World's oceans hit hottest temperature ever recorded in August

Published on

24/08/2026 - 15:42 GMT+2

The world's oceans have reached their highest daily temperature on record, with global sea surface temperatures hitting 21.1°C on 22 August - a new high made particularly striking by the time of year, according to the European Union's climate change data.

The reading, recorded by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, narrowly surpassed the previous daily record of 21.09°C, set in March 2024.

Ocean temperatures typically reach their global peak in March and April, following the southern hemisphere summer, Copernicus explains. This new record being set in August, when temperatures would normally be declining, highlights the persistent warmth spreading across the world's oceans.