Climate scientists have long predicted that 2024 would be one of the hottest years in recorded history, and now it’s “virtually certain” to claim the top spot. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global temperature this year will surpass all previous records, marking a critical milestone in the ongoing climate crisis. This year is also set to be the first in which the global average temperature exceeds 2.7°F (1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels—a threshold that climate leaders had hoped to avoid in their efforts to curb global warming.
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized that this unprecedented heat should act as a wake-up call for global leaders, urging them to take more ambitious action at the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, which kicks off Monday. The previous record for the hottest year was set in 2023, but 2024 is on track to exceed that.
A Record-Setting October in the U.S.
October 2024 was one of the hottest on record for the United States. The national average temperature of 59°F was nearly 5°F above the 20th-century average, making it the second-warmest October in 130 years of record-keeping, after 1963. Many states experienced their hottest October ever, including Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah, while others such as California and Colorado also recorded unusually high temperatures.
The dry conditions exacerbated the situation, with October 2024 being the second-driest on record, tied with 1963. Only October 1952 was drier. In fact, it was the driest October ever recorded in Delaware and New Jersey. This combination of heat and dryness contributed to severe wildfire conditions, including the ongoing Mountain Fire in California and a fire in Brooklyn, New York.
Global Temperatures Continue to Surge
Globally, October 2024 saw an average surface temperature about 2.97°F (1.65°C) above pre-industrial levels, continuing a troubling trend of record-breaking heat. This marked the 15th consecutive month in which global temperatures were at least 2.7°F higher than the long-term average. Copernicus data also shows that the past 12 months have been consistently warmer than both pre-industrial temperatures and the 1991-2020 average by 1.3°F (0.7°C).
To avoid 2024 becoming the hottest year on record, temperatures would need to drop significantly in the final two months of the year—a scenario that seems increasingly unlikely.
A Critical Moment for Climate Action
With the planet’s temperatures continuing to rise, the urgency of addressing climate change has never been clearer. As COP29 approaches, the latest data serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger global climate policies and more ambitious action to prevent further environmental devastation.
