World registers hottest day ever recorded on July 21, Monitor Says
Sunday, July 21, 2024, has been confirmed as 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 on that day peaked at 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit), edging slightly above the previous record set just last year at 17.08 C (62.74 F).
Heatwaves have ravaged extensive areas of the United States, Europe, and Russia over the past week, contributing to the unprecedented temperatures observed on Sunday. Copernicus Climate Change Service spokespersons informed Reuters that their records, spanning back to 1940, clearly indicated that the previous record daily temperature average from last year had indeed been surpassed on July 21.
The year 2023 had witnessed a string of record-breaking days from July 3 through July 6, all of which surpassed prior temperature records. These persistent high temperatures have been attributed to climate change, exacerbated by the ongoing combustion of fossil fuels, which has driven extreme heat events across the Northern Hemisphere.
According to Copernicus, every month since June 2023, totaling 13 consecutive months, has ranked as the hottest on record compared to the respective months of previous years. This trend underscores the escalating impact of climate change on global temperatures.
Scientists have raised concerns that 2024 could potentially surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record, fueled by ongoing climate change trends and the recent cessation of the El Nino weather phenomenon in April, which typically influences global temperatures.
The confirmation of July 21, 2024, as the hottest day ever recorded globally serves as a stark reminder of the intensifying climate crisis and the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to mitigate its effects.
