Copernicus report highlights extreme global temperatures, record heat in western Europe, and unusually warm oceans.
Image: Reuters
May 2026 was the second-warmest May globally since records began, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The global average surface temperature reached 15.81°C, which is 0.55°C above the 1991–2020 average. It was only slightly cooler than May 2024, the warmest on record.
Ocean temperatures also remained unusually high, with parts of the tropical Pacific showing continued warming as conditions move toward a possible El Niño development.
Western Europe experienced one of its most intense early-season heatwaves in recent history. Countries including France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal saw record-breaking temperatures for May.
“Feels-like” temperatures reached between 35°C and 40°C in several regions, creating severe heat stress conditions across affected areas.
Experts at ECMWF said the rapid shift from cooler conditions to extreme heat reflects how climate extremes are becoming more frequent and intense.
While western and southern Europe faced heat and dryness, other regions saw contrasting conditions. Heavy rainfall affected Türkiye, Bulgaria and Moldova, while northern Europe and Scandinavia were wetter than average.
Elsewhere, wetter-than-normal conditions were recorded in parts of North America, Asia, Brazil, southern Africa and Australia, while dry conditions persisted in the central United States and parts of South America.
Sea ice levels also remained low, with Arctic ice 4% below average and Antarctic ice 9% below average for the month, ranking among the lowest on record.
