Sunday marked the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit), slightly surpassing last July’s record of 17.08 degrees Celsius (62.74 degrees Fahrenheit).
Record-breaking heatwaves
Heatwaves have swept across the United States, Europe, and Russia over the past week, contributing to the unprecedented temperatures. Copernicus confirmed that Sunday’s record-breaking temperature surpassed the previous high set last year.
Since June 2023, each month has been the hottest on record compared to corresponding months in previous years, according to Copernicus. This marks 13 consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures.
Climate change and future predictions
The consistent rise in global temperatures is largely attributed to climate change driven by fossil fuel combustion. Last year, four consecutive days in early July broke temperature records, emphasizing the ongoing impact of climate change.
Some scientists predict that 2024 could surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record, influenced by climate change and the recent El Niño phenomenon, which concluded in April.