Geneva: Earth just experienced its hottest August on record, based on newly released weather data. The global sea surface temperature reached its highest observed level, and global tropical cyclone activity was above average, resulting in the formation of 19 tropical storms. According to United Nations, the planetary heat record was documented through monthly reports from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Service, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and NASA. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that the effects were felt worldwide. The northern hemisphere saw its warmest summer, while the southern hemisphere experienced a nearly record warm winter. Additionally, the Arctic and Antarctic recorded below-average sea ice coverage during August. Western Europe experienced significant heatwaves in August, continuing an exceptional trend of extreme heat that began in May. Severe drought conditions were observed in France, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and the U nited Kingdom. Large regions in central and eastern Europe also faced widespread dryness since May, with water flow levels exceptionally low in major European rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Southern Bug, and Dnieper. El Niño was identified as a key driver of August's record climate conditions, as reported by WMO. This climate pattern influenced global tropical cyclone activity and contributed to heavy rainfall and floods in certain countries. Other regions, like Indonesia, were affected by drought, with El Niño conditions intensifying seasonal wildfires, as noted by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Data indicates that the 10 warmest Augusts on record have all occurred since 2016. The global average surface air temperature in August was 1.65°C higher than the estimated pre-industrial baseline, according to the latest data. The global surface temperature was also 1.32°C above the 20th-century average, marking the warmest August since records began in 1850, according to the US National C enters for Environmental Information. The predictions for El Niño's future impacts are concerning. It is now firmly established and expected to intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, significantly affecting rainfall and temperature patterns through 2027, as per WMO's latest El Niño Update. Organizations worldwide, including WMO, use datasets from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, NOAA, NASA, and others to track global climate information. The UN weather agency plans to present an update on this year's climate at the next UN climate conference, COP31, in Antalya, Turkey, in November.