Antalya:The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released the State of the Climate 2026 Update, which indicates that September 2026 was approximately 1.47 °Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This increase in temperature is expected to continue rising towards the end of the year due to the intensifying El Niño, projected to be the strongest on record by December.
According to Wam, the report outlines that Earth's energy imbalance is at its highest since monitoring began, with greenhouse gases trapping unprecedented amounts of heat. This has led to the ocean absorbing 90% of the excess heat, making 2026 likely to be the tenth consecutive year of record ocean warmth. Additionally, sea levels have reached record highs, and sea-surface temperatures have consistently broken monthly records throughout the year.
The report also highlights the ongoing retreat of glaciers, with 2025 witnessing an annual ice mass loss equivalent to filling five Olympic pools every second. Freshwater storage has been on the decline since 2014. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for global leaders to act by cutting emissions and transitioning from fossil fuels to protect vulnerable nations.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that the current El Niño event has released unprecedented ocean heat, intensifying weather phenomena such as heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms. The year has seen hundreds of millions exposed to extreme heat, with catastrophic events in Nepal showcasing the compounded risks faced by communities in high-mountain areas.
The report underscores the significance of sustained global observations and multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWSs) in navigating the impacts of climate change. The number of countries with MHEWSs has increased significantly from 56 in 2015 to 136 in 2025. The WMO State of the Climate 2026 Update was unveiled at the start of COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, and provides a scientific basis for understanding climate trends up to September 2026.