World Meteorological Organization says extreme heat more frequent, intense and longer-lasting

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World Meteorological Organization says extreme heat more frequent, intense and longer-lasting

The World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday that periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent, intense and longer-lasting as climate change warms the planet. Parts of Europe are enduring their fifth heatwave of a summer marked by drought, wildfires and record-breaking temperatures. The WMO said the current European heat pattern reflects high-pressure systems and a warmer climate, while El Niño is not contributing this year.

Key Facts

Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent.
June 1976 featured a broadly similar pattern of high and low pressure systems to those seen this year.
The picture for 1976 showed a few isolated areas above average temperatures in a much cooler world, while today much of the globe has above-average temperatures.
Marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and waters west of Europe are providing additional background warmth for persistent high-pressure systems.
Dry ground is intensifying the heat because soils warm more quickly once moisture is depleted.

Heat Pattern Drivers

Kennedy said the current pattern of heat across Europe reflects the interaction between a persistent pattern of high-pressure systems across the Northern Hemisphere and a warmer climate. The high-pressure systems trap warm air, reduce cloud cover and block cooler air from moving in, allowing heat to build over large regions for days or weeks. El Niño is not contributing to Europe's heat this year because tropical Pacific conditions are currently neutral.

1976 Contrast

June 1976 featured a broadly similar pattern of high and low pressure systems to those seen this year. The picture for 1976 is one of a few isolated areas above average temperatures in a much cooler world. Today the picture is reversed, with much of the globe experiencing above-average temperatures and only a few isolated cooler regions.

Marine and Soil Effects

Exceptionally warm seas and parched soils are amplifying temperatures across Europe, Kennedy said. Marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and waters west of Europe are fueling hotter conditions on land by providing additional background warmth for persistent high-pressure systems. Dry ground is intensifying the heat because soils warm more quickly once moisture is depleted.

1 source

World Meteorological Organization says extreme heat more frequent, intense and longer-lasting

reuters.com

Reuters Business

Perspectives

YouTube

State of the Global Climate Report - World Meteorological Organization

United Nations

Global Development Lab Annual Lecture with Professor Celeste Saulo, WMO

Imperial College London

Everything you need to know about the World Meteorological Organization

World Meteorological Organization - WMO

Environment

Study projects four extra hours of extreme heat per hot day by 2100

A modeling study published in Nature Climate Change projects that under a high-emissions scenario, hot days could gain more than four additional hours of extreme heat by 2070–2099. Low- and middle-income countries would bear over three-quarters of the increased heat exposure. Non-hot days are also projected to gain hot hours that daily temperature metrics fail to detect.

Environment

Climate change drove record heat in Europe's seas, scientists say

Human-caused climate change was the main driver of record-breaking sea temperatures around Europe, scientists said on Wednesday. The Mediterranean averaged 27°C in July, the highest for any July on record, while a buoy near Mallorca hit 33°C in early August. The World Weather Attribution group found peak temperatures in the Mediterranean and Bay of Biscay would have been virtually impossible without human-caused warming.

Science

PIK study detects global warming acceleration to 0.35°C per decade since 2015

A new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) finds that global warming has accelerated sharply since 2015, reaching about 0.35°C per decade. The analysis, published in Geophysical Research Letters on August 1, filtered out natural factors like El Niño and volcanic eruptions, revealing the acceleration with over 98% statistical certainty across five major global temperature datasets. The rate is nearly double the 1970–2015 average of just under 0.2°C per decade.

Environment

Scientists warn extreme weather events will intensify as Earth warms

American scientists warn that Earth's continued warming from greenhouse gas accumulation is already causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events. Climate researcher Daniel Swain said the world has entered a new era of climate risk, with longer heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires and powerful storms. The warning comes as NOAA data shows 84% of the world's corals experienced heat stress between 2023 and 2025.

World Meteorological Organization says extreme heat more frequent, intense and longer-lasting

Key Facts

Heat Pattern Drivers

1976 Contrast

Marine and Soil Effects

Perspectives

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Perspectives

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