The average global temperature hit 17.18°C on Tuesday, breaking the record of 17.01°C set just a day earlier, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction. This surpasses the previous record of 16.92°C from 2016, during the last El Niño event.
The World Meteorological Organization confirmed on Tuesday that El Niño has returned. Experts warn that combined with human-induced global heating, this could lead to further record-breaking temperatures. Dr Paulo Ceppi of Imperial College London noted that with El Niño yet to peak and northern hemisphere summer ongoing, more records are likely in the coming days or weeks.
Dr Karsten Haustein of Leipzig University suggested that while a slight downturn may occur soon, the annual global temperature maximum typically occurs at the end of July. He stated that July could become the warmest month in 120,000 years, since the Eemian interglacial period.
Heatwaves have been observed worldwide. The UK experienced its hottest June on record, the southern US has been under an intense heat dome, and parts of China have seen temperatures above 35°C. North Africa neared 50°C, and the Middle East faced scorching heat during the hajj pilgrimage. Even Antarctica recorded anomalously high temperatures, with Ukraine's Vernadsky base reaching 8.7°C in July.
Professor Ilan Kelman of University College London warned that rising temperatures and humidity will lead to increased heat-related deaths, particularly among those without access to cooling or who must work outdoors. He described heat-humidity as a 'silent killer', especially when nighttime temperatures remain high.
