Ocean heat records broken as July sea surface temperature hits 20.96C, beating 2023's 20.89C; month was joint second-warmest globally
European UnionCopernicus Climate Change Service

Ocean heat records broken as July sea surface temperature hits 20.96C, beating 2023's 20.89C; month was joint second-warmest globally

The world's oceans recorded their hottest July ever, with sea surface temperatures reaching 20.96C, surpassing the previous record of 20.89C set earlier this year. This month was also the joint second-warmest July globally, 1.47C above pre-industrial averages, according to the EU's climate monitoring service.

BBC BBC10 August 2026 · 11:35 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

The world's oceans reached unprecedented temperatures in July, with an average sea surface temperature of 20.96C, surpassing the previous record of 20.89C set earlier this year.1

This month was also noted as the joint second-warmest July globally, with temperatures 1.47C above pre-industrial averages, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.2

The rise in temperatures is partly attributed to developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, which are expected to strengthen in the coming months.34

Around Europe, record sea surface temperatures were observed along the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, leading to widespread and severe marine heatwaves.

Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the climate, absorbing most excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions and producing half of Earth's oxygen. However, warmer waters absorb less carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change.

The impact of higher ocean temperatures extends to marine ecosystems, as species migrate in search of cooler waters, disrupting food chains and threatening biodiversity.

Key Insight
“The average sea surface temperature outside polar regions reached 20.96C, surpassing the previous high of 20.89C set in 2023. El Niño conditions are developing in the tropical Pacific and are forecast to strengthen, potentially driving further ocean warming.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
BBCBBC
“The world's oceans hit their hottest ever recorded temperatures for July, partly fuelled by developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, according to the EU's climate monitoring service.”
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EARLIER IN THE STORY:
Western Europe breaks temperature record as summer heatwaves and wildfires persist; heat has killed over 25,000 across Europe
CNN
Western Europe breaks temperature record as summer heatwaves and wildfires persist; heat has killed over 25,000 across Europe

The first two months of summer in western Europe have been the hottest on record, with the average temperature for June and July at 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.9 Fahrenheit), about 2.79 degrees above the average, surpassing the previous record set in 2022.

Air Quality ImpactBloomberg L.P.Climate Change
2026-08-10
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • The first two months of summer in western Europe have been the hottest on record, with the average temperature for June and July at 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.9 Fahrenheit), about 2.79 degrees above the average, surpassing the previous record set in 2022.
  • Heat has killed more than 25,000 people across Europe this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, and Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent but is ill-equipped to withstand heat due to older infrastructure and a lack of air conditioning.
  • Surface soil moisture levels across western Europe in July 2026 were significantly lower than in July 2022, with exceptional to record deficits for rain and soil moisture in France, Spain, and parts of Germany and the UK.
  • The record-breaking summer heat fostered conditions for Europe’s record-setting wildfires, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, mainly in Spain, France, and Italy, and increased emissions and disrupted air quality across the continent.
  • Severe droughts have sucked water from Europe’s major rivers, particularly the Seine, the Rhine, and the Danube, threatening energy supply and forcing Hungary and Romania to temporarily shut down nuclear reactors cooled by the Danube.
  • Managing water resources will become progressively more challenging as record river lows are likely to be broken again in the future.
The GuardianThe Guardian
World's seas hit record-high temperatures for July, with severe marine heatwaves roiling Europe's Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts

The world's seas were hotter last month than in any July on record, as devastating heat struck western regions.

Copernicus Climate Change ServiceCopernicus Climate ServiceDrought Amplification
2026-08-10
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • July sea surface temperatures hit record highs globally and on the Atlantic coast and western Mediterranean, according to the EU's Copernicus climate change service.
  • Globally, the average sea surface temperature outside the cold polar regions was the highest on record for the month, surpassing the previous July record set in 2023.
  • Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist, stated that this summer has been a clear example of climate breakdown intensifying extremes that reinforce each other.
  • Persistent high-pressure systems have trapped heat over western Europe, which has amplified widespread drought and reduced natural cooling.
  • As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily.
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