Copernicus Climate Benchmark Explorer

Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) Report Grounding: Earth recorded its hottest August on record in 2026, tying the benchmark for the hottest individual month recorded in the reanalysis dataset since 1940 with an anomaly of +0.85°C above the 1991–2020 climatological baseline.

Target Year / Month Aug 2026 Rank #1 (Tied Benchmark)

1991–2020 Anomaly +0.85°C Climatological Reference Baseline

Estimated Pre-Industrial Offset +1.51°C Above 1850–1900 Baseline

Benchmark Status TIED BENCHMARK Matching Global Peak Recorded

Copernicus ERA5 Anomaly Curve (1940–2026)

Historical Floor: 1940 Scrubbed Year: 2026 Latest: 2026

Drag slider or click any bar/point to inspect anomalies Aug Anomaly: +0.85°C

Comparative Analysis

Selected Year 2026

Selected Month August

Recorded Anomaly +0.85°C

Delta vs 1940 August +1.12°C

Delta vs 2023 August +0.14°C

1991–2020 Absolute Climatology ~16.82°C

Estimated Absolute Temp 17.67°C

Benchmark Verification

August 2026 matches the highest monthly anomaly in the ERA5 reanalysis history, standing +0.85°C above the 1991–2020 mean.

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Source Attributions:
• Reporting: CNN Climate reporting (CNN post @CNN)
• Monitoring Agency: Copernicus Climate Change Service (ECMWF/ERA5 dataset)
• Reference Baseline: 1991–2020 Climatological Reference Normal