The average global surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius on July 21, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union (EU).
Preliminary data from C3S indicates that the temperature on July 21 was slightly higher than the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius, set in July of last year. Some scientists believe that 2024 could surpass 2023 to become the hottest year ever recorded, as climate change and the natural weather phenomenon El Niño have pushed this year’s temperatures higher. Last June was also the hottest June in history.
Firefighters battling a blaze in Oroville, California, USA. (Photo: Independent).
Heatwaves have scorched vast areas of the United States, Europe, and Russia over the past week. Spain has endured its first official heatwave of the year, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. The country’s weather agency reported that the only areas not affected were the northwest coast and the northern Atlantic region. A warm air mass from North Africa moved across the Mediterranean, flooding central and southern Spain.
Authorities and experts agree that climate change is the primary cause of the rising temperatures, leading to prolonged droughts and wildfires in the Mediterranean and several other parts of the world. Scorching hot, dry winds have swept through Greece, a country that has been experiencing an extended heatwave peaking on July 17-18. Many areas in Greece recorded temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius, with nighttime temperatures in some parts of Athens remaining above 30 degrees Celsius for the past ten days.
On July 18, firefighters worked to control two major fires in the suburbs of Thessaloniki and on the island of Kea, near Athens. “We urge the public to be especially cautious as the risk of severe wildfires is very high in the coming days”, said Pavlos Marinakis, a government spokesperson in Greece.
On July 16, the state-owned electricity company in Serbia reported record high consumption due to air conditioning usage.
Moving north, the cities of Berlin, Germany, and Paris, France, are expected to face heatwaves in early August. The average temperature in Germany’s capital is forecast to rise to 28 degrees Celsius by August 6, which is 8 degrees Celsius higher than the 30-year average.
