As the summer in the northern hemisphere comes to an end, it is “increasingly likely” 2024 will be the hottest year on record, despite July ending a 13-month streak of monthly temperature records.
Extreme heat hit hundreds of millions of people throughout July, with a domino effect felt right across society. The world’s hottest day on recent record was registered – yet another unwelcome indication of the extent that greenhouse gases from human activities are changing our climate.
Global average temperatures for 13 consecutive months (from June 2023 to June 2024) set new monthly records.
July 2024 was the second warmest month globally and the second warmest July in the ERA5 data record of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. It was just 0.04°C lower than the previous high set in July 2023.
It underlines the urgency of the Call to Action on Extreme Heat issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said that “Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.”
“Widespread, intense and extended heatwaves have hit every continent in the past year. At least ten countries have recorded daily temperatures of more than 50° C in more than one location. This is becoming too hot to handle,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
“Death Valley in California registered a record average monthly temperature of 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) – possibly a new record observed for anywhere in the world. Even the remote frozen ice sheets of Antarctica have been feeling the heat,” she said.
Globally, July 22nd was the hottest day, and July 23rd was a virtual tie, in the reanalysis dataset (ERA5) from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The daily global-average temperature reached 17.16°C and 17.15°C in ERA5 on 22 and 23 July. Given the small difference, similar to the level of uncertainty in the ERA5 data, it is not possible to say which of the two days was the hottest with complete certainty, said C3S.
“Climate adaptation alone is not enough. We need to tackle the root cause and get serious about reducing record levels of greenhouse gas emissions ,” said Celeste Saulo.
Source: World Meteorological Organization