World's Oceans Hit Hottest July on Record as El Niño Conditions Build in the Pacific

View of Pacific Ocean taken during ISS Expedition 13; Sea surface temperatures reached a record 20.96C in July 2026, as El Niño conditions strengthen across the tropical Pacific (Credit: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center/WikiMedia Commons)

The world's oceans recorded their hottest July on record last month, with average sea surface temperatures reaching 20.96C, according to new data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The figure beat the previous July high of 20.89C, set in 2023. It comes as El Niño conditions continue to build across the tropical Pacific, a pattern scientists expect to strengthen further into autumn.

Globally, July 2026 also ranked as the joint second-warmest July on record, tied with July 2024. Surface air temperatures were around 1.47C above the estimated pre-industrial average for the month.