Latest news with #temperature
CBC
39 minutes ago
- Science
- CBC
After the puzzling warmth of Earth in 2023 and 2024, what could 2025 have in store?
After 12 consecutive months with temperatures 1.5 C above the 1850-1900 average, Earth's temperature has now fallen — thanks in part to the end of a natural cycle. According to Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate analysis organization, the global average temperature was 1.33 C above the pre-industrial average in the month of May, and the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (CCCS) found that the monthly average was 1.40 C above the pre-industrial average. (Climate agencies around the world use different methods to analyze global temperatures, hence the difference). While that may seem like good news, the fact is that 2025 is still on track to be one of the top three warmest years on record, according to Zeke Hausfather from Berkeley Earth. "With El Niño being firmly over, it is very unlikely at this point that 2025 is going to set a new record, but I still think it's the odds-on favourite to be the second-warmest on record, and it is virtually certain to be a top three warmest year," Hausfather said. El Niño, a natural, cyclical warming in a region of the Pacific Ocean that, coupled with the atmosphere, can cause global temperatures to rise, began in the middle of 2023 and then peaked in 2024, which could account for some of the record warmth that puzzled climate scientists. What was particularly interesting about the month of May is that land surface temperatures dropped quite a bit compared to the months prior. However, it was still the second warmest on record, after 2024. Hausfather said the sharp drop could have been some "internal variability" that had kept the land surface temperatures elevated and that perhaps last month was a result of the end of that variability. An important thing to also keep in mind when it comes to what we can expect in terms of 2025 making the record books, winter is when we see the greatest temperature anomalies, Hausfather said. So that could push 2025 even higher than what we're seeing now. On the road to warming trend of 1.5 C Ocean temperatures have decreased in part due the end of El Niño, but remain near record highs. In May, the average ocean temperatures were 0.99 C above the 1850-1900 average, according to Berkeley Earth. "At the moment, we are seeing, or we have just seen, a significant ocean heat wave in the North Atlantic," said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). "[Ocean temperatures are] cooler than last year and the previous one, but it's warmer than any other years we have in the record. So this is one of these things where it depends [whether] we like to see the glass half full or half empty. It's still a very warm ocean." Though Earth did hit a 12-month average of 1.5 C, that doesn't necessarily mean failure on the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming below a threshold of 1.5 C. That would have to happen over a longer period, though there is no set timeframe set out in the agreement. Climate is looked at over long periods, typically spanning 20 or 30 years. Carbon budget running out However, a study published on Wednesday in the journal Earth System Science Data, found that — if emissions continue at 2024 rates — we have only three years until we exhaust our carbon budget to keep warming below that 1.5 C threshold. "Record-high greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly narrowing the chance of limiting warming to 1.5 C," Joeri Rogelj, professor of climate science and policy at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London and co-author of the report, said in a statement. "The window to stay within 1.5°C is rapidly closing. Global warming is already affecting the lives of billions of people around the world." Though the that threshold may be breached, climate scientists like to stress that every tenth of a degree matters. But to keep warming below 2 C — the threshold initially set by the Paris Agreement — there needs to be a concerted effort to drastically cut CO2 emissions, as Antonio Gutteres, secretary-general of the United Nations, has continually stressed. Buontempo said that he's hopeful that the tools we have today will at least help us deal with dealing with the outcomes of rising temperatures. "I'm an optimist. I've always been an optimist, and my feeling is that, you know, there are plenty of positives in this terrible situation, including the fact that we never had so much information about our planet," Buontempo said.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
UK weather - live: Heatwave conditions intensify as Met Office forecasts temperatures of 33C
Temperatures of up to 33C are expected on Friday amid warnings the UK could break its record for the hottest day of the year for the second day in a row,. An amber heat-health alert for all regions is in force until Monday - the first of its kind since September 2023. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. After sweltering temperatures in recent days, a number of areas are expected to have passed the official heatwave criteria by Friday afternoon, the Met Office has said. Temperatures reached as high as 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday and are expected to hit the low 30s again today. Follow our live coverage of the heatwave conditions below: The UK could break its record for the warmest day of the year for the second day in a row, with temperatures up to 33C forecast. Temperatures will be in the low 30s, and probably be the peak of the hot spell on Saturday, as 34C is possible, still below the June record of 35.6C in 1976. Sunday will be another very warm day in the south and east probably in the late 20s, elsewhere it will be cooler, with temperatures in the mid 20s, Mr Stroud said. Read more from PA The UK could break its record for the warmest day of the year for the second day in a row, with temperatures up to 33C forecast. Temperatures will be in the low 30s, and probably be the peak of the hot spell on Saturday, as 34C is possible, still below the June record of 35.6C in 1976. Sunday will be another very warm day in the south and east probably in the late 20s, elsewhere it will be cooler, with temperatures in the mid 20s, Mr Stroud said. Read more from PA
Sky News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Sky News
UK weather: Britons brace for record temperatures again - as hot spell yet to peak
The hottest day of the year could be recorded for the second day in a row as temperatures are set to rise further today, the Met Office has said. After a peak of 32.2C (89.9F) was reached yesterday at Kew Gardens and Heathrow Airport in west London - making it the hottest day of the year so far - a new high of 33C (91.4F) is forecast for Friday. It comes as an amber heat alert was issued for all regions of England, with the heat health warnings by the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) remaining in place until 9am on Monday. The amber alert indicates "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services, and warns there could be "a rise in deaths" among people with pre-existing health conditions and those aged over 65. The Met Office said today's temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s and potentially 33C, while a number of areas are forecast to pass the heatwave criteria by the afternoon. A heatwave is officially declared when temperatures exceed a certain level for three days in a row. Thresholds vary from 25C to 28C (77F to 82F) across the UK. Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: "We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue, it does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s, 31C, 32C fairly widely, maybe seeing 33C." Although clouds are expected to move in from the west on Saturday, bringing the possibility of thundery showers in North Wales and northwest England, temperatures could rise further. Peak on Saturday Sky News' weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "Saturday looks to bring the peak of the heat, with large parts of England seeing above 30C. "Somewhere in eastern England could see 34C (93F). If that occurs, it would be only the 6th time the UK has reached 34C in June since 1961." She went on: "Temperatures won't be as high further north and west on Saturday, but humidity levels will be higher making it still feel hot and uncomfortable. "There'll be little relief at night, with some areas perhaps experiencing a tropical night - where temperatures don't fall below 20C. "Sunday will bring cooler and fresher conditions from the west, but south-east England will stay very warm. "Throughout there'll be a good deal of fine weather, but there'll be an increasing chance of thunderstorms this weekend."
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
UK could record another warmest day of year as temperatures up to 33C forecast
The UK could break its record for the warmest day of the year for the second day in a row, with temperatures up to 33C forecast. Temperatures reached as high as 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, amid an amber heat-health alert for all regions in England. The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Meanwhile, temperatures are forecast to reach the low 30s and could potentially hit 33C on Friday, the Met Office said. And by Friday afternoon a number of areas are expected to have passed the heatwave criteria, Met Office weather forecaster Dan Stroud said. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Mr Stroud said: 'We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue, it does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s, 31C, 32C fairly widely, maybe seeing 33C.' Increasing amounts of cloud will move in from the west on Saturday, with a chance of showers, some which could be thundery in North Wales and north-west England, while eastern areas will see another dry and hot day, he added. Temperatures will be in the low 30s, and probably be the peak of the hot spell on Saturday, as 34C is possible, still below the June record of 35.6C in 1976. Sunday will be another very warm day in the south and east probably in the late 20s, elsewhere it will be cooler, with temperatures in the mid 20s, Mr Stroud said. It comes after a warning has been issued as firefighters have responded to more than 500 wildfires across England and Wales this year so far. As of Thursday, 564 wildfire incidents have been responded to by English and Welsh fire and rescue services so far this year, which is a 717% increase on the same period in 2024, and more than double the number seen in 2022 which went on to be the worst year on record for wildfires, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said. The NFCC is now urging caution among members of the public when enjoying the outdoors in a bid to prevent further spikes in incidents.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
UK could record another warmest day of year as temperatures up to 33C forecast
The UK could break its record for the warmest day of the year for the second day in a row, with temperatures up to 33C forecast. Temperatures reached as high as 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, amid an amber heat-health alert for all regions in England. The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Friday is set to be another hot day, but what else is on the cards? Find out in the latest 4cast 👇 — Met Office (@metoffice) June 19, 2025 Meanwhile, temperatures are forecast to reach the low 30s and could potentially hit 33C on Friday, the Met Office said. And by Friday afternoon a number of areas are expected to have passed the heatwave criteria, Met Office weather forecaster Dan Stroud said. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Mr Stroud said: 'We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue, it does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s, 31C, 32C fairly widely, maybe seeing 33C.' Increasing amounts of cloud will move in from the west on Saturday, with a chance of showers, some which could be thundery in North Wales and north-west England, while eastern areas will see another dry and hot day, he added. Temperatures will be in the low 30s, and probably be the peak of the hot spell on Saturday, as 34C is possible, still below the June record of 35.6C in 1976. Sunday will be another very warm day in the south and east probably in the late 20s, elsewhere it will be cooler, with temperatures in the mid 20s, Mr Stroud said. It comes after a warning has been issued as firefighters have responded to more than 500 wildfires across England and Wales this year so far. As of Thursday, 564 wildfire incidents have been responded to by English and Welsh fire and rescue services so far this year, which is a 717% increase on the same period in 2024, and more than double the number seen in 2022 which went on to be the worst year on record for wildfires, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said. The NFCC is now urging caution among members of the public when enjoying the outdoors in a bid to prevent further spikes in incidents.
