New Heat Record: 21 July Was World’s Hottest Day, Monitor Confirms

Sunday, the 21st of July, marked the hottest day ever recorded, according to preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which has monitored global weather patterns since 1940. 

On Sunday, the global average surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit), narrowly surpassing the previous record set last July of 17.08 degrees Celsius (62.74 degrees Fahrenheit). This heatwave had its most significant impact in regions of the United States, Europe, and Russia.

Potential for More Heat Records

Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus service, suggested that the start of this week might see temperatures higher than Sunday’s record as heatwaves continue to escalate worldwide. 

“When you have these peaks, they tend to cluster together,” he explained. 

Last year, four consecutive days from July 3 to July 6 broke the record, driven by intense heat across the Northern Hemisphere due to climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

Continuous Heat Records

While Sunday’s record was slightly higher than last year’s measurement, Buontempo noted, 

“What is remarkable is how different the temperature of the last 13 months is with respect to the previous records.” 

Every month since June 2023 has now been the hottest on record for its respective month.

Climate change is a serious problem

Some scientists predict that 2024 could surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record. This forecast is based on ongoing climate change and the influence of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which concluded in April but has helped to push temperatures even higher this year.