August Sets Global Temperature Record

Why it matters locally: Higher global average temperatures could exacerbate sea-level rise and coral bleaching, directly impacting Hawaii's coastal communities and marine ecosystems which are vital to local industries like tourism and fishing.

---

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.