September 6, 2024 – The Northern Hemisphere had its hottest summer on record, meaning 2024 will likely be the most popular calendar yr on record, the Copernicus Climate Change Service reported Friday.
According to Copernicus, the common temperature within the Northern Hemisphere in June, July and August was 16.8 °C (62.24 °F), about 0.03 °C (0.05 °F) hotter than the 2023 summer record.
The current annual heat record was also set in 2023, when the worldwide average temperature was 14.98 °C (58,964 °F). The hottest yr before that was 2016.
“During the last three months of 2024, the globe experienced the hottest June and August, the hottest day on record, and the hottest northern summer on record,” Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said in a press release. “This string of record temperatures increases the likelihood that 2024 will be the hottest year on record.”
June and August 2024 surpassed the months of 2023 when it comes to heat, but July 2024 was barely cooler than July 2023. However, June 2024 was a lot hotter than June 2023 that the summer was the most popular overall, Copernicus director Carlo said Buontempo, PhD to The Associated Press.
According to Copernicus, July 22, 2024 was the most popular day on record, with a world every day average of 17.16 °C (62.88 °F).
“The temperature-related extreme events seen this summer will only get worse and have more devastating consequences for people and the planet unless we take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Burgess said.