Bonn, 10/06/2026

May 2026 was the second warmest on record globally across land and sea, according to theCopernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium–Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The month saw exceptionally high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical Pacific, as the equatorial Pacific continues its transition towards El Niño conditions, expected to develop in the coming months – a phenomenon that would likely drive extreme weather globally.

Across Europe, the month was marked by a rapid transition from much cooler-than-average conditions to one of the most intense heatwaves ever observed this early in the year in western Europe. The heatwave saw numerous temperature records broken for May with France, the UK, Ireland and Portugal enduring particularly severe conditions. While remarkable, the event is consistent with Europe’s rapid warming and the long-term trend towards more frequent, more intense and earlier-season heatwaves.

There was also a contrast in dry and wet conditions. The month saw large parts of western, central and eastern Europe – including Italy and Spain – experience drier-than-average conditions. Conversely, there was widespread flooding in Türkiye, Bulgaria and Moldova, as parts of northwest continental Europe, north Scandinavia, Finland, Türkiye and the Black Sea region were wetter than average.

Global temperature

  • May 2026 was the second-warmest May globally in the ERA5 dataset, with an average surface air temperature of 15.81°C, 0.55°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, only behind May 2024.
  • May 2026 was 1.42°C above the estimated pre-industrial 1850-1900 average.

Sea surface temperature

  • The average SST for 60°S–60°N in May 2026 was the second highest on record for the month, at 20.90°C, behind May 2024 (20.93°C).
  • SSTs remained at exceptionally high levels across a large portion of the tropical Pacific as the equatorial Pacific continues its transition towards El Niño conditions, expected to develop in the coming months.

Europe

  • Europe experienced its third warmest spring (March–May) on record.
  • The month was marked by a rapid transition from colder- to warmer-than-average conditions around 20 May over much of the continent. During the second half of the month, western Europe experienced an unusually early and intense heatwave, with many May temperature records broken across France and the UK, Ireland and Portugal. “Feels-like” temperatures reached 35°C to 40°C across large parts of the region, corresponding to ‘strong’ (above 32°C) and ‘very strong’ (above 38°C) heat stress conditions. The rapid transition likely increased impacts on populations, leaving little time for people– or crops and ecosystems during growing season – to acclimatise to much higher temperatures.
  • A web article, providing more information on the European heatwave of May 2026 is availableHERE.

Europe

  • In May 2026, large parts of western and central Europe and regions of eastern Europe, including Italy and the south of Spain, all experienced drier-than-average conditions, partly favoured by persistent high-pressure conditions and extreme temperatures.
  • Conversely, regions of northwestern continental Europe, of northern Scandinavia, Finland and, most prominently, Türkiye and the Black Sea region, saw wetter-than-average conditions.
  • River flow was below average across much of central, eastern and northeastern Europe linked to below-average rainfall, with very low flows also seen in parts of Fennoscandia, especially Finland, due mainly to low snow cover.
  • Above-average river flow was observed in most of the Iberian Peninsula and Türkiye, reflecting the legacy from the wet winter in Iberia and heavy rainfall in Türkiye.
  • For most of Europe, spring was drier than average. Wetter-than-average regions included much of Iceland, Türkiye and regions of Scotland, Spain, Scandinavia, western Russia and peninsular Italy.
  • Spring river flow was below average across much of central, eastern and northeastern Europe, particularly across the Danube, Vistula and Baltic catchments.
  • Above-average spring river flow was observed in much of the Iberian Peninsula, Türkiye, Ireland, southern Italy and parts of northern Europe, reflecting wetter conditions during the season and/or the legacy of a wet winter.

Globally

  • Outside Europe, wetter-than-average regions in May 2026 included the northern and southeastern North America, regions of Asia north of Indian subcontinent and in western China, as well as a region of Brazil, southern Africa, and large parts of Australia. In contrast, drier than average conditions prevailed in the central United States, large parts of Central Asia, Madagascar, southwestern Australia, and much of South America.
  • The extratropical regions which where wetter than average in the period March-to-May 2026 included parts of northern and eastern north America, Iraq and the Middle East, central Asia and China, much of Southern Africa and of Australia. Drier-than-average regions included the southern USA, much of South America, Madagascar and southwestern Australia.

May 2026 – Sea ice highlights

  • In the Arctic, the average sea ice extent in May was about 4% below average, ranking fourth lowest for the month.
  • Regionally, sea ice cover was below average in most marine sectors of the Arctic, particularly in the northern Barents Sea and around Svalbard.
  • In the Antarctic, the monthly sea ice extent was about 9% below the May average, ranking seventh lowest for the month, close to values observed in the past two years.
  • Sea ice cover was much below average in the Bellingshausen Sea, which remained almost ice-free, while it was above average in the neighbouring Amundsen Sea.

– End –

More information about climate variables in May 2026 and climate updates of previous months as well as high–resolution graphics can be downloadedhere.

  • Answers to frequently asked questions regarding temperature monitoring can be foundhere.
  • Follow near–real–time data for the globe on Climate Pulsehere.
  • More on trends and projections on Climate Atlashere.
  • Access key datasets easily with the new tool ERA Explorer Apphere.

Temperature and hydrological maps and data are from ECMWF Copernicus Climate Change Service’s ERA5 and ERA5–Land (surface soil moisture) datasets.

The findings about global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) presented here are based on SST data from ERA5 averaged over the 60°S–60°N domain. Note that ERA5 SSTs are estimates of the ocean temperature at about 10m depth (known as foundation temperature). The results may differ from other SST products providing temperature estimates at different depths.

Sea ice maps and data are from a combination of information from ERA5, as well as from the EUMETSAT OSI SAF Sea Ice Index v2.3.

Regional area averages quoted here are the following longitude/latitude bounds:

Globe, 180W–180E, 90S–90N, over land and ocean surfaces.

Europe, 25W–40E, 34N–72N, over land surfaces only.More information about the data can be foundhere.

Information on national records and impacts is based on national and regional reports. For details see the respective temperature and hydrologicalC3S climate bulletinfor the month.

C3S has followed the recommendation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to use the most recent 30–year period for calculating climatological averages and changed to the reference period of 1991–2020 for its C3S Climate Bulletins covering January 2021 onward.

More information on the reference period used can be foundhere.

More information on Copernicus:www.copernicus.eu

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