403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
May 2026 Ranks Second-Warmest Ever
(MENAFN) May 2026 ranked as the second-warmest such month ever recorded globally, with Western Europe enduring an abnormally premature heatwave, the European Union's climate monitoring body announced Wednesday.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that global average surface air temperature during May 2026 reached 15.81 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 1991-2020 baseline by 0.55 degrees Celsius. The figure trailed only May 2024 and exceeded estimated pre-industrial levels by a alarming 1.42 degrees Celsius.
Ocean surface temperatures between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude averaged 20.90 degrees Celsius, representing the second-highest May reading ever documented, as the tropical Pacific accelerates its transition toward anticipated El Niño conditions expected in coming months.
Western Europe bore the full force of an early, ferocious heatwave throughout May's second half, with France, Britain, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal shattering numerous local temperature records. Certain regions recorded "feels-like" temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.
"In Europe, an unusually early and intense heatwave demonstrates how quickly climate extremes are becoming the new normal rather than the exception," warned Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The C3S cautioned that sustained warming trajectories, persistently elevated ocean temperatures, and emerging El Niño developments collectively underscore intensifying risks of increasingly frequent and devastating climate extremes threatening communities worldwide.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that global average surface air temperature during May 2026 reached 15.81 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 1991-2020 baseline by 0.55 degrees Celsius. The figure trailed only May 2024 and exceeded estimated pre-industrial levels by a alarming 1.42 degrees Celsius.
Ocean surface temperatures between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude averaged 20.90 degrees Celsius, representing the second-highest May reading ever documented, as the tropical Pacific accelerates its transition toward anticipated El Niño conditions expected in coming months.
Western Europe bore the full force of an early, ferocious heatwave throughout May's second half, with France, Britain, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal shattering numerous local temperature records. Certain regions recorded "feels-like" temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.
"In Europe, an unusually early and intense heatwave demonstrates how quickly climate extremes are becoming the new normal rather than the exception," warned Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The C3S cautioned that sustained warming trajectories, persistently elevated ocean temperatures, and emerging El Niño developments collectively underscore intensifying risks of increasingly frequent and devastating climate extremes threatening communities worldwide.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment