160 million hectares burned and sea temperatures at record highs: 2026 is shaping up to be a year of extreme warming
12 May 2026 at 08:55
The first half of 2026 has already provided clues that this will be another record-breaking year linked to global warming, according to scientists and meteorological organizations. These signs range from wildfires across the planet to high ocean surface temperatures and record-low levels of Arctic sea ice. Scientists anticipate a second half of the year with even higher than normal temperatures due to the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern that increases surface water temperatures in the tropical Pacific, ultimately impacting the entire globe. Several experts are already pointing to a high probability that 2026 will end as the second-warmest year on record, or even exceed the previous mark set in 2024.

© ROB ENGELAAR (EFE)