July tops heat record
July has been declared the world’s hottest month since records began.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says July 2019 was 0.95℃ warmer than the 20th century July average of 15.8℃.
It is the latest in a string of new peaks and extremes that are in line with predictions for human-made climate change.
As July is usually the warmest month on the calendar, meteorologists say it is a new all-time monthly record for the past 140 years.
The global average in June 2019 topped the previous July record, set in 2016, by 0.03℃.
It comes after several European countries including France, Belgium and Germany reported July temperatures well above previous national temperature records.
The temperature hit 34.8℃ in the tiny Swedish hamlet of Markusvinsa – an incredible temperature considering it was measured north of the Arctic Circle.
NOAA records show nine of the 10 hottest Julys on record have occurred since 2005. Last month was the 43rd consecutive July above the 20th century average.
The July peaks come after an equally sizzling June, which was the hottest June recorded since 1880.
This is alongside other major climate landmarks, such as the measurement of average Arctic sea ice, which is almost 20 per cent below average in July, and lower than the previous historic low of July 2012.