Fifteen heat records have been broken across the country so far this year as extreme weather events become more frequent and climate breakdown deepens, an influential climate historian told the Guardian.
Tens of thousands of local maximum temperatures were recorded at stations from the Arctic to the South Pacific, and an additional 130 monthly temperature records were broken across the country, according to Maximiliano Herrera, who keeps a record of extreme weather events.
He called the unprecedented numbers recorded in the first six months staggering. “We've never seen or thought of anything like this level of heat before,” he said. “The months from February 2024 to July 2024 were the highest ever recorded in any statistic.”
This is alarming, because last year's heatwaves can be attributed primarily to a combination of man-made global warming (from the burning of gas, oil, coal and wood) and El Niño, a natural phenomenon that warms the tropical Pacific ocean surface and increases temperatures around the world. Although El Niño has been weakening since February this year, it has provided little relief.
“Instead of declining as El Niño ends, records are declining more rapidly now compared to late 2023,” Herrera said.
At the local level, new ground is being broken every day. On some days, thousands of observation stations set new records for the highest and lowest monthly temperatures. The latter is particularly severe because high nighttime temperatures give people and ecosystems no time to recover from the relentless heat. For example, in late July, the Yueyang region of China recorded an unprecedented overnight low of 32.0°C, along with dangerously high humidity.
On June 7, Egypt (left) recorded its highest national temperature of 50.9°C in Aswan. In May this year, Laos (right) entered a new hot zone with a record high of 43.7°C in Ta Ngon. Illustration: Guardian Design
The geographic range of the country's hottest temperatures is astonishingly wide. Mexico recorded a high of 52°C (122°F) in Tepatche on June 20. On the other side of the globe, the Australian territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands recorded its third hottest temperature of the year on April 7, hitting 32.8°C (92.8°F) on April 7.
But the hottest temperatures are concentrated in the tropics. On June 7, Egypt recorded a national record of 50.9°C in Aswan. Two days earlier, Chad tied the national record of 48°C in Faya. On May 1, Ghana recorded a maximum of 44.6°C in Nabrong, while Laos entered new hot zones with 43.7°C in Ta Ngone. Herrera said the tropics have been breaking records every day for 15 consecutive months.
Herrera, originally from Costa Rica, has been monitoring climate records for 35 years, filling an important gap in global temperature monitoring. Since 2007, international records have been archived by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which organizes a panel of experts to scrutinize each record, a time-consuming task. Meanwhile, national and local-level records are updated hourly or daily by a number of different organizations. Herrera quickly compiles the latter, double-checks with local sources, and publishes updates on his account, Extreme Temperatures Around the World X.
His findings are consistent with, and in many cases exceed, those of leading research institutions that have warned about a rapidly warming world.
Temperatures in Faya, Chad, have reached 48°C twice so far this year. Photo: Alamy
“Alarm signals are ringing across all key indicators. Some records are not only being topped but also broken. And change is accelerating,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said of last year's brutal global heatwave.
The European Union's main monitoring agency, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, recently reported that June became the 13th consecutive month to break the monthly temperature record, reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average, resulting in more intense heatwaves, more extreme precipitation events, droughts, loss of ice sheets, sea ice and glaciers, and accelerating sea level rise and ocean warming.
The WMO also: At least 10 countries have recorded temperatures above 50°C so far this year..
According to Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo, there is no end in sight to the unwelcome records: “Even if this particular trend in extremes will one day end, new records will inevitably be broken as the climate continues to warm. This is inevitable unless we stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and oceans.”
Hopes of a cooling effect have so far not been realised: Preliminary data from the Copernicus ERA5 satellite show that 22 July was the hottest day on Earth's record, with a global average surface temperature of 17.15°C.
Herrera said he hopes the extreme weather warnings will help the world prepare for future events and reduce threats to life, infrastructure and the economy. “In times of extreme weather, we as humans and other organisms are more stressed and at risk, which can make us more vulnerable,” he said.
National and local weather records were broken or tied this year.
On 28 February, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands recorded their highest ever temperature of 32.8 °C (98.4 °F). The same temperature was recorded on 29 February and 7 April.
On March 6, Costa Rica set a new national record at Cerro Huacalito, recording 41°C (104°F). This record was broken again on March 23 at the same location, when a temperature of 41.5°C (104°F) was recorded.
On March 12, Comoros broke a national record with a temperature of 36.2°C at Hahaya Airport.
On March 13, Congo recorded a new national record of 39.6°C in Amfond.
On March 24, the Maldives recorded a new national record high temperature of 35.1°C in Hanimadhoo. The same record was broken on April 11.
On March 31, Togo broke its national record with a temperature of 44°C in Mango.
On April 3rd, Mali recorded a new national record of 48.5°C in the Cayes.
On April 10, Belize broke the national record with a temperature of 42.3 °C (104.4 °F) at Barton Creek, which was later recorded at Chaa Creek on May 17.
On 24 April, Chad equalled the national record by recording 48°C in Faya, which was recorded again on 5 June.
On April 27, Cambodia broke its national record with temperatures hitting 42.8°C in Preah Viet Har and Svay Leu.
On May 1, Ghana broke the national record with a temperature of 44.6°C in Navrongo.
On May 1, Laos recorded a new national record of 43.7°C in Tha Ngon.
On May 29, Palau recorded 35°C at Babelzap International Airport, tying the country's all-time high temperature, and on June 2, it surpassed the national record with a temperature of 35.6°C.
On June 7th, Egypt recorded a new national record of 50.9°C in Aswan.
On June 20th, a temperature of 52°C was recorded in Tepache, Mexico, tying the national record.
