Global temperature streak continues with record heat in April
A new report by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has identified April 2024 as the hottest month on record for global air and sea surface temperatures. This record-breaking heat persists despite the ongoing weakening of the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is usually associated with increased temperatures. The report points to human-induced climate change as a significant factor behind these extreme conditions.
Unprecedented warmth continues since June 2023
According to the report, since June of the previous year, each month has successively set a new record for warmth, with April 2024 being no exception. The temperatures recorded were 1.58 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average from 1850-1900. "While unusual, a similar streak of monthly global temperature records happened previously in 2015/16," Copernicus said.
Global temperature exceeds Paris Agreement target
The average temperature over the past year was recorded as being 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 to limit global warming. However, this does not imply a failure to meet the Paris target, which is calculated over several decades. "It does signal how remarkable the global temperature conditions we are currently experiencing are," commented Copernicus climatologist Julien Nicolas.
April 2024 marks Europe's second warmest month
April 2024 was also documented as Europe's second warmest month on record, following March and the entire winter period. This increase in temperature was not limited to Europe alone, as blistering heat waves have hit areas of Asia, from India to Vietnam, in recent weeks. While most of Europe experienced a wetter than usual April, areas such as southern Spain, Italy, and the western Balkans were drier than average.
Global weather extremes continue amid record heat
In March, the United Nations's (UN) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that there is a "high probability" that 2024 will be another record-hot year and warned that global attempts to halt the trend have been insufficient. But Copernicus climatologist Nicolas Nicolas stated that it was "still a little early" to tell whether new records would continue to be broken, considering that 2023 was "exceptional."
