Last month was the hottest October ever recorded

October 2026 was recorded as the hottest October globally, with surface air temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels. This marks the third consecutive month exceeding 1.5°C, with a high probability that 2026 will surpass this threshold, becoming the second year after 2024 to do so. Sea surface temperatures also reached record highs, averaging 20.95°C outside polar regions. The Copernicus report highlights significant warming trends, particularly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, while parts of Western and Central Europe experienced lower temperature anomalies. River flows remained exceptionally low in Central and Eastern Europe, although some areas in Western Europe saw recovery due to reduced drought conditions. Heavy rains and flooding impacted several countries, including the UK and Spain.