Western Europe records its joint-warmest September
Copernicus data put September 2026 at 2.51°C above the 1991–2020 average in western Europe, tying September 2023 for the regional record.
Archived after its publication day. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 12 September 2026This is a monthly climate assessment, not a local forecast or warning. It provides context for planning and adaptation, while today's decisions still require live IPMA information.
- September was the second-warmest globally in the ERA5 record, at 16.27°C.
- Europe as a whole had its third-warmest September, while western Europe tied its record.
- Average September sea-surface temperature outside polar oceans reached a monthly record of 21.05°C.
The figures describe a region and a month
Copernicus calculates the western-Europe result over a defined land area that includes Portugal but is wider than the country. It does not mean that every Portuguese station set a record or experienced the same anomaly.
The global September average was 1.63°C above the estimated 1850–1900 level. A single month above 1.5°C is not the same as crossing the Paris Agreement's long-term temperature limit.
Use climate evidence for longer-term decisions
Persistent warmth and dryness can influence water, agriculture, buildings, insurance and emergency planning. Local exposure still depends on place, construction, health and the activity being considered.
For today's heat, rain, coast or fire decision, open the current IPMA forecast and the responsible civil-protection information rather than treating a climate bulletin as an alert.
What you can do now.
- 01
Use the Copernicus result as planning context, not a live warning.
- 02
Check local IPMA data for current decisions.
- 03
Review heat and water resilience in longer-term property or business plans.
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