June 2024 was the hottest on record globally, marking the peak of a 13-month streak of unprecedented temperatures, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This month capped half a year of extreme weather, from heatwaves to floods.
“This is more than a statistical oddity and it highlights a large and continuing shift in our climate,” said Carlo Buontempo, C3S director. “Even if this specific streak of extremes ends at some point, we are bound to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm.”
C3S noted that every month since June 2023 has surpassed previous records, indicating a significant trend due to continuous greenhouse gas emissions. The global average temperature in June 2024 surpassed the previous record set in June 2023, amidst severe weather conditions worldwide.
Heatwaves have impacted regions from India to the United States, while relentless rain caused flooding in countries like Kenya, China, and Brazil. Wildfires ravaged Greece and Canada, and Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category five hurricane in the Atlantic.
“The streak of record-breaking temperatures coincided with El Nino, a natural phenomenon that contributes to hotter weather globally,” said Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at C3S. However, rising sea surface temperatures in various oceans also played a critical role in the soaring global heat.
Ocean temperatures hit a milestone with 15 consecutive months of record highs, significantly affecting air temperatures above them. Despite the upcoming La Nina phase expected to have a cooling effect, Nicolas warned that persistent high sea surface temperatures might lead to 2024 being warmer than 2023.
In the 12 months leading up to June 2024, global air temperatures were 1.64°C above pre-industrial levels, the highest on record. While this does not breach the 1.5°C warming limit set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, C3S indicated there is an 80% chance of exceeding this limit temporarily within the next five years.
