August Highlights:

• August and June–August were the third warmest such periods for the globe.
• Sea ice extent was below average for both poles.
• Global tropical cyclone activity was near normal with 16 named storms.

Temperature

Globally, August 2025 was the third-warmest August in NOAA’s 176-year record, with a temperature 1.93°F (1.07°C) higher than the 20th-century baseline. This is 0.36°F (0.20°C) cooler than the record set in August 2023 and tied in 2024. The January–August global surface temperature was the second-highest on record behind 2024. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2025 will rank among the five warmest years on record, with less than a 1% chance of ranking as the warmest year on record.

In August, temperatures were above average across much of the globe’s surface, particularly over most ocean areas and parts of every continent. The most significant warm temperature departures were observed in the Northern Hemisphere’s northern latitudes, as well as central Antarctica. Areas with below-average temperatures included parts of the eastern contiguous U.S., eastern Europe, southern and Far East Russia, southern and eastern Africa, the northern North Atlantic Ocean, the central Pacific Ocean and much of Antarctica.

Regionally, the Arctic, North America, South America, Europe and Asia all saw their August temperature rank among the 10 highest on record, with the Arctic region having experienced its second-warmest August on record. Africa, Oceania and the Antarctic region also had above-average August temperatures, although they did not rank among the 10 warmest on record.

Globally, the June–August 2025 surface temperature was also the third highest in NOAA’s 176-year record. Only the respective June–August periods of 2024 and 2023 were warmer. This three-month period, defined as meteorological summer for the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, was also the third warmest on record for both hemispheres individually.

Sea Ice

Global sea ice extent was the third smallest for August in the historical record at 920,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. Arctic sea ice extent was also below average by 390,000 square miles, the seventh-smallest August extent in the 47-year record. The Antarctic sea ice extent for August was the third-smallest at 530,000 square miles below average.

Tropical Cyclones

Globally, tropical cyclone activity was near normal in August, with 16 named storms. Five of these storms reached tropical cyclone strength. Most storms formed in the Northern Hemisphere basins: Atlantic (three), East Pacific (six) and West Pacific (six). In the Southern Hemisphere, one named storm—Tropical Storm Awo—formed in the South Indian basin. No other storms formed in the Southern Hemisphere, which is typical for August.

For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our August 2025 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.