October 2026 global surface air temperature reaches record high

Data published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) ahead of the conference show that October 2026 was the warmest October on record globally. The average global surface air temperature reached 15.35°C, 0.90°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.75°C above the estimated pre-industrial level (1850-1900). October was also the third consecutive month with temperatures more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.

This visualisation shows how much surface air temperatures in October 2026 differed from the 1991–2020 average. It is based on data from ERA5, a C3S dataset produced by combining observations from across the world with model data to estimate global weather and climate conditions since 1940. Temperatures were more than 7°C above average in parts of West Antarctica, and warmer-than-average conditions also affected parts of northern Canada, eastern Africa, and the Middle East. In contrast, temperatures were below average across Greenland and much of southern South America.

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) is taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. As delegates discuss climate action, these data add to the long-term record used to assess global warming. Copernicus provides climate datasets which help scientists, policymakers, and the public monitor the effects of climate change and assess temperature trends against international climate goals.