NOAA confirms September 2026 set a historic ocean record and was the second-warmest on record

Earth recorded its second-warmest September since records began, while ocean temperatures reached a record high. El Niño continues to strengthen, and sea ice remains below average at both poles.

September delivered another striking sign of global warming. According to the latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released on October 9, last month was the second-warmest September on record and set a new record for global ocean surface temperatures. Perhaps the most remarkable finding is that ocean temperatures have now reached record highs for four consecutive months.

The report also indicates that 2026 is on track to finish among the five warmest years on record, amid persistent El Niño conditions, declining sea ice, and above-average tropical cyclone activity worldwide.

Global temperatures remain exceptionally high

The average global land and ocean surface temperature in September was 1.33°C (2.39°F) above the 20th-century average. This was the second-highest September temperature since records began in 1850, just 0.07°C (0.13°F) below the record set in September 2023.

The persistence of this warming trend is particularly significant: September marked the 51st consecutive September with global temperatures above the long-term average. Furthermore, the ten warmest Septembers on record …….