Global temperatures soared in August 2025, making it the third-hottest August on record, with oceans near historic highs, triggering deadly heatwaves and wildfires across Europe and Asia.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the average global temperature for August was 1.29°C above pre-industrial levels, slightly cooler than the record set in 2023 and matching 2024. While this rise may seem incremental, scientists warn it is already destabilizing the climate and intensifying extreme weather events.
Western Europe recorded the most pronounced temperature anomalies, particularly southwest France and the Iberian Peninsula. Southwest Europe endured a third summer heatwave, with Spain experiencing a 16-day heatwave that caused over 1,100 deaths, according to the Carlos III Health Institute.
Wildfires and extreme weather events
Intense wildfires swept through Spain and Portugal, forcing thousands of evacuations. Scientists noted that human-induced climate change made the hot, dry, and windy conditions that fueled the blazes up to 40 times more likely.
Outside Europe, unusually high temperatures were observed across Siberia, parts of Antarctica, China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the Middle East. The UK, Japan, and South Korea experienced the hottest summers on record, based on their national meteorological data.
Oceans near record heat
The world’s oceans, crucial in regulating climate by absorbing excess heat, reached near-record temperatures in August, particularly in the North Atlantic west of France and the UK. Hotter seas contribute to worsening weather extremes, including storms, floods, and more frequent heatwaves.
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus, stressed that these patterns underscore “the urgency of reducing emissions and the critical need to adapt to more frequent and intense climate extremes.”
Copernicus collects global climate data using billions of satellite and weather readings dating back to 1940, highlighting long-term trends of human-driven warming. Experts warn that continued emissions from fossil fuels are pushing temperatures higher, making disasters more frequent and severe.
The events of August 2025 illustrate that even small incremental rises in global temperature can have deadly consequences, emphasizing the need for urgent climate mitigation and adaptation measures worldwide.
