Global Sea Surface Temperatures Hit 21.0C Record as El Niño Adds to Climate Warming
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Jul 1
Global Sea Surface Temperatures Hit 21.0C Record as El Niño Adds to Climate Warming
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Jul 1
Summary
Copernicus measured a 21.0C global average sea surface temperature on June 21, the highest ever recorded for that time of year and about 0.1C above the 2023 and 2024 marks.
El Niño conditions that emerged in the equatorial Pacific on June 2 helped push temperatures higher, but Copernicus said the spike fits a longer climate-driven warming trend rather than a standalone anomaly.
Outside the polar regions, ocean temperatures over the past three years have run 0.35C to 0.73C above the long-term average, raising the risk of marine heatwaves, stressed ecosystems, stronger storms and heavier rainfall.
Copernicus said the new high may signal another move into "uncharted territory," with more records likely in coming months as El Niño develops and scientists watch whether the surge proves temporary or persistent.
The warning aligns with recent UN projections showing a 91% chance that at least one of the next five years exceeds 1.5C of warming and an 86% chance one surpasses 2024 as the hottest year on record.
A 'super El Niño' is forming in record-hot oceans. What extreme weather should the world brace for in the coming year?
With climate monitoring systems facing cuts, how can we track the escalating threats from our superheated oceans?
Fossil fuel firms knew of ocean risks decades ago. What legal action can hold them accountable for today's record heat?
El Niño 2026: Historic Climate Extremes and the Global Response to a Supercharged Event
Overview
As of June 2026, the global climate system is experiencing a clear shift from the previous La Niña phase, which ended in February, to a strengthening El Niño event. This transition began with a neutral state in May and is marked by a substantial reservoir of heat building beneath the Pacific Ocean surface. The heat is expected to rise in the coming months, leading to warmer global conditions. Recent temperature records already show this warming trend, with April 2026 recording the second-highest ocean surface temperatures ever observed, highlighting the intensifying impact of El Niño on the world's climate.