WMO: 2023–2026 Are the Four Hottest Years on Record as El Niño Drives Temperatures Higher
Data from the World Meteorological Organization shows that 2023 through 2026 are the four hottest years on record. Global temperatures for the first nine months of 2026 were 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, while greenhouse gas concentrations and Earth's energy imbalance continue to reach new highs.
The period from 2023 to 2026 constitutes the four hottest years on record, according to data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global near-surface average temperature from January through September 2026 was 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, defined as the 1850–1900 baseline. This figure is comparable to the anomalies recorded in 2023 and 2025, though it remains below the 1.55°C record set in 2024.
Oceanic climate patterns have played a significant role in this year's temperature trajectory. La Niña briefly suppressed global warming at the beginning of 2026, but the subsequent development of El Niño caused temperatures to rise again. Predictions indicate that El Niño will persist until early 2027, which may further increase the 2026 annual average temperature.
Underlying these short-term fluctuations is a long-term trend driven by rising emissions. In 2025, global greenhouse gas concentrations reached new highs, with carbon dioxide levels increasing by 53% compared to pre-industrial times. Additionally, Earth's energy imbalance reached its highest level since records began in 1960 during 2025, and this record may be broken in 2026. Satellite observations and ocean heat content measurements indicate accelerating heat accumulation within the Earth system.