2026 marked by record heat, devastating floods, and extreme weather events
A year of unprecedented climate extremes has left thousands dead and reshaped global weather patterns, with scientists warning that 2026 may be among the warmest years ever recorded.
By Amit Ricci ·
The year 2026 has been defined by a series of extreme weather events that have resulted in a death toll in the high tens of thousands. Following what was recorded as the hottest summer since 1850, the global community is grappling with the consequences of accelerating climate breakdown. As the Cop31 climate conference continues, a retrospective of the year highlights a pattern of droughts, fires, and floods that serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for emission cuts.
The year began with a fourth-hottest January on record, which fueled severe wildfires in Australia. Temperatures in southern states soared nearly 20C above average, with Port Augusta and Andamooka reaching 50C. Hospitals in Melbourne reported a significant rise in heat-related illnesses, and scientists noted that the supercharged climate made the heatwave five times more likely. February saw a fourth-hottest month as well, with record rainfall in Brazil triggering mudslides that killed 72 people in Juiz de Fora and displaced more than 10,000 individuals across major cities.
March was marked by devastating floods across multiple continents. Ethiopia suffered at least 131 deaths, while Kenya and Tanzania also recorded significant fatalities. In the Middle East, fierce winds and heavy rains inundated the Arabian peninsula, with hailstones the size of tennis balls falling in Oman. The World Meteorological Organization reported a rapid acceleration in the world’s energy imbalance, with over 90% of this excess energy stored in the oceans. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the global climate as being in a state of emergency, urging rapid reductions in fossil fuel emissions.
By April, a super typhoon tore through Micronesia, Guam, and Saipan. Sinlaku recorded wind speeds of 295km/h, making it one of the most powerful storms of the year. It caused $1.5bn in damages and left 43,000 people without power. May and June brought deadly heat to South Asia, where temperatures peaked at 52C in Pakistan. In June, ocean heat entered uncharted territory, coinciding with the emergence of a new El Niño. The Arctic and Antarctica also experienced unprecedented warmth, with the Arctic recording its warmest June ever and Antarctica seeing rain instead of snow.
July was a joint-hottest month on record, bringing wildfires to both Canada and Europe. In Canada, nearly 1,000 fires burned 3 million hectares, causing smoke to reach New York and resulting in the world's worst air quality in Toronto. In Europe, prolonged droughts led to wildfires burning twice the average area of the past two decades. Extreme weather also disrupted the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States and the World Cup, with heat alerts affecting half the US population and storms delaying several football matches.
August brought the hottest month on record, during which a glacier collapse in Nepal killed at least 1,300 people. The event, likely caused by warm temperatures and permafrost degradation, swept away communities in the Lhende Khola river valley. In Europe, the warmest summer in history led to an estimated 50,000 heat-related deaths. The heat was so intense that Romania was forced to shut down its only nuclear power station due to low water levels in the Danube River affecting its cooling system.
The latter half of the year continued the trend of extremes. September saw record heat and deadly storms lash Asia, killing hundreds and forcing millions to evacuate. October was the hottest on record, with the UN warning of a peak El Niño that would act as a wrecking ball for global weather. Protests erupted in Indonesia following its worst fire season in a decade, which scorched nearly 2 million hectares of forest. In Chile, record rainfall turned roads into rivers, while the Amazon faced severe drought and fire activity that degraded air quality in Manaus.
As November concludes, global temperatures have tied the all-time record of 2.04C above preindustrial levels. This year is forecast to be one of the four warmest in history. While carbon dioxide levels have reached a peak not seen in two million years, global fossil fuel emissions are expected to fall this year due to high prices and the growing adoption of renewable energy sources.
