August Sets Global Temperature Record

Why it matters locally: California, a state frequently impacted by extreme heat, wildfires, and drought, faces heightened concerns regarding long-term water management and public health due to rising global and national temperatures. These trends could exacerbate existing environmental challenges across the state.

---

August recorded the highest global average temperatures ever measured, according to scientific assessments. This development follows a summer during which temperatures in the United States also surpassed historical records. Researchers documented August's global average temperature as the highest on record. Simultaneously, summer temperatures across the United States exceeded all prior measurements.