August 2025 - The Third Warmest on Record, Global Heatwaves Grow
BURGAS – The global climate system continues to register alarming trends, with the past month of August ranking as the third warmest August in history. Data published by the European Earth observation program "Copernicus" reveal the scale of climate change, which is causing extreme weather events worldwide.
According to information provided by "Copernicus" and cited by Agence France-Presse, August 2025 was the third warmest August on the planet, matching the record heat observed in July of the same year. These values account for both land and ocean surface temperatures. Only Augusts from 2023 and 2024 were warmer, highlighting the accelerating dynamics of global warming.
The analysis by European scientists shows that although August 2025 was 0.22 degrees Celsius cooler than the record values in 2023 and 2024, it remains alarmingly warm. The month was a full 1.29 degrees Celsius above the average temperature for Augusts of the pre-industrial era, which is an indication of the significant human impact on the climate.
The alarming picture is further compounded by data for a prolonged period. The 12-month period from September 2024 to August 2025 was 1.52 degrees warmer than the average temperature recorded between 1850 and 1900. This value exceeds the critical 1.5-degree threshold set by the Paris Agreement as the warming limit, whose crossing is considered extremely dangerous for the planet. The announcement by "Copernicus", also distributed by DPA, emphasizes that climate anomalies are not isolated events but part of a long-term, disturbing trend.
The impact of these heatwaves was tangibly felt in different parts of the world. According to the "Copernicus" report, Western Europe and a large part of Asia were covered by prolonged periods of extreme heat, which create serious risks for human health and economies. These heatwaves led to an increased risk of:
- forest fires
- drought
- difficulties in agriculture
Meanwhile, forecasts for the upcoming September in Bulgaria show that the unusually warm weather will continue, with temperatures reaching up to 36 degrees during the week. This information only reinforces the feeling that summer, although calendrically over, is far from giving way to autumn chill, serving as a reminder of the persistent nature of the climate changes that the whole world faces.