NOAA Report Finds June to be Hottest on Record

A NOAA report released Thursday, July 13th, revealed that Earth experienced the hottest June on record. Furthermore, 2023 could become the warmest year for the planet.

The climate report published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) included data from the planet’s average surface temperatures over both land and ocean, displaying numbers that were higher than any in their recorded database.

This marks the hottest June in NOAA’s 174-year record, whose data stretches as far back as the mid-19th century.

WORLDWIDE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO RISE

Data shows global temperatures have been rising for some time. June 2023 was the 47th consecutive June with global temperatures above the 20th-century average—additionally, Junes spanning from 2015 to 2023 number among the ten warmest Junes on record.

This June displaced the past global record by almost a quarter of a degree. This increase is significant – “a considerably big jump” – as global temperatures usually increase by hundredths, not quarters, of a degree, said Ahira Sanchez-Lugo, an NOAA climate scientist.

The global temperature average for June registered at 61.79°F (16.55°C). This is 1.89°F (1.05°C) above the 20th-century average of 59.9°F (15.5°C), marking the first time the temperature exceeded 1°C above the long-term average.

This report echoes similar findings from NASA, Berkeley Earth, and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

Both land and ocean temperatures were the warmest ever recorded for our planet, with the ocean surface setting monthly highs in April, May, and June. Covering 70% of the planet’s surface, oceans drove the record June temperatures. Moreover, ocean warmth was shown to be the most above average of any month since 1850 by NOAA’s data.

June has also been the 532nd consecutive month that global temperatures were more than slightly above average.

Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald commented on the rising temperatures: “The recent record temperatures, as well as extreme fires, pollution, and flooding we are seeing this year, are what we expect to see in a warmer climate,” the scientist said. “We are just getting a small taste for the types of impacts that we expect to worsen under climate change.”

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS EXPERIENCED WORLDWIDE

This summer has been marked by many examples of extreme weather. Canada, which faced a record-hot June, is experiencing its worst fire season in modern history, with fires burning over 20 million acres.

In 2022, Europe experienced the hottest summer on record, with heat waves killing more than 61,000 people. This year is expected to be equally blistering, with temperatures expected to soar in the coming weeks.

Just last week, deadly flooding struck the U.S. and several other countries simultaneously as a result of heavy rainfall. Flooding beset areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Hampshire over the weekend with several casualties.

South Korea’s monsoon season is also looking to be particularly threatening, with ​​dozens having already died in floods and landslides before the wet season is out. Flooding has also occurred in India, Japan and China.

“As the climate gets warmer, we expect intense rain events to become more common; it’s a very robust prediction of climate models,” said Brian Soden, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Miami. “It’s not surprising to see these events happening; it’s what models have been predicting ever since day one.”

And while the countries that contribute most to the changing climate may be Western nations, the regions most affected by the results lack the proper infrastructure to deal with these events.

WILL 2023 BECOME THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD?

According to NOAA data, the first half of 2023 came in at the third hottest period of January to June on record. 2016 and 2020 are the two periods that currently surpass it.

The NOAA report states there is a 20% likelihood that 2023 will become the hottest year on record globally, predicting next year to be more likely to achieve this title. Other authorities disagree.

Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth estimates the chance to be closer to 80%. Our planet’s residents will simply have to wait and see.