Abu dhabi: Record land and sea surface temperatures, coupled with extreme weather events such as heat, drought, fire, and floods, have defined the state of the climate in July and early August. These conditions have underscored the urgent need for reliable forecasts, early warnings, and monitoring services from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to mitigate their impacts on society and economies.

According to Emirates News Agency, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the warmest month on record globally. NOAA highlighted that July is typically the warmest month each year, but the unprecedented temperatures recorded in 2026 and 2024 have set new benchmarks since 1850.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, managed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), reported July 2026 as the second warmest on record. The average surface air temperature was 1.47°C above the pre-industrial baseline. Both NOAA and Copernicus also noted that global sea surface temperatures in July were the highest ever recorded.

The frequency of such high-impact weather and climate events emphasizes the critical role of the WMO community in providing timely and accurate information to help mitigate the cascading effects on global societies and economies. The data showcases a consistent warming trend, with the ten warmest Julys on record occurring since 2016, and the last four years (2023-2026) being the hottest.