Global temperatures in August 2025 made it the third-hottest August ever recorded, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Average global temperatures were 1.29°C above pre-industrial levels, close to the peaks seen in 2023 and 2024.
The impact was stark in Western Europe, where Spain endured a 16-day heatwave that claimed more than 1,100 lives, according to the Carlos III Health Institute.
Portugal and Spain also faced devastating wildfires, forcing thousands to flee homes. Climate scientists said such extreme events are now up to 40 times more likely due to human-driven warming.
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Beyond Europe, record-breaking summer heat was reported in Japan, South Korea, and the UK. Parts of Siberia, China, the Middle East, and even Antarctica also saw above-normal temperatures.
Adding to the concern, oceans reached near-record levels of heat, particularly in the North Atlantic, west of France and the UK. Hotter seas amplify extreme weather events such as storms and flooding.
Samantha Burgess of Copernicus said the findings highlight the “critical urgency of cutting emissions and preparing for more extreme climate shocks.”
