As California Swelters, Climate Officials Declare Summer 2024 the Hottest on Record
Southern California is enduring one of its most intense heat waves, part of what climate officials confirm was the hottest summer on Earth to date. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average global temperature for June, July, and August 2024 was a record-breaking 62.24°F. This scorching season saw wildfires, extreme heatwaves, and numerous heat-related fatalities worldwide.
A Record-Breaking Year The summer of 2024 set unprecedented global surface temperatures, rising 1.24°F above the 1991-2020 average. For 13 of the past 14 months, global temperatures surpassed the critical threshold of 2.7°F (1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels. Experts are deeply concerned that 2024 will likely become the hottest year on record, continuing a worrying trend of escalating global temperatures.
Heat Beyond Expectations What perplexes scientists is the persistent heat, even without the El Niño effect, which typically contributes to warmer conditions. Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist, suggests that this could indicate additional factors at play, such as solar activity, changes in aerosol regulations, and the aftermath of the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai volcanic eruption.
A Planet in Peril U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that humanity is playing "Russian roulette with our planet," as climate experts grow increasingly concerned about the long-term consequences of such extreme heat. Scientists are pushing for urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fearing that without action, the planet will continue to heat at an unsustainable rate.
Impact on Land and Oceans Not only were temperatures on land extreme, but oceans also experienced unprecedented warmth, contributing to a fierce start to the Atlantic hurricane season. Arctic and Antarctic sea ice levels dropped significantly, marking some of the lowest records in recent years.
The California Heat Crisis In California, July 2024 went down as the state's hottest month on record, with parts of Los Angeles County surpassing 110°F. Death Valley National Park endured its hottest summer ever, with nine consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 125°F. This extreme heat wave is anticipated to break more records and impact public health, ecosystems, and wildfire risks across Southern California.
