September 2026 was the second hottest September on record globally, with average temperatures reaching 16.27°C. This was 0.82°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.63°C above pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. The month was 0.11°C cooler than September 2023.
This marks the second consecutive month where global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, following August 2026. Average sea surface temperature for oceans outside polar regions also reached a record high in September, measuring 21.05°C.
Intensifying El Nino conditions in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean are contributing to these high temperatures. The Nino 3.4 region SST reached an all-time high of 29.70°C in September, surpassing previous strong El Nino events.
Source: Down To Earth