New data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has found that following a November that was the second-warmest on record, 2024 as a whole is set to break temperature records.
According to C3S, the average surface air temperature, globally, in November 2024 was 14.10°C, which is 0.73°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.62°C above pre-industrial levels.
In terms of the year to date, global average temperatures between January and November were 0.72°C above the 1991-2020 average, and, notably, 0.14°C warmer than the same period in 2023.
‘At this point, it is effectively certain that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record and more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level,’ C3S said.
Above-average temperatures in Europe
In Europe, temperatures for November were above average but did not rank among the top ten warmest for the region – November 2015 was the warmest November on record, at 1.74°C above average.
However, northern Russia and parts of northeastern and southwestern Europe experienced above-average temperatures, while southeastern Europe saw cooler-than-average conditions.
Outside Europe, temperatures were mostly above average over eastern Canada and the central and eastern USA, most of Mexico, Morocco, northwest Africa, China, Pakistan, most of Siberia, and Australia. In the western US and in parts of northern Africa, however, temperatures were below average.
Elsewhere, sea surface temperatures for November 2024 were the second highest on record at 20.58°C, C3S noted.
Arctic sea ice extent was the third lowest for November, at 9% below average, while Antarctic sea ice extent reached its lowest level ever recorded for the month, continuing a concerning pattern observed throughout 2023 and 2024.
‘Virtual certainty’
“With Copernicus data in from the penultimate month of the year, we can now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first calendar year above 1.5°C,” commented Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
“This does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.” Read more here.
November 2024 #C3S Climate Bulletin: it was the second-warmest November globally on record.
— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) December 9, 2024
Findings:
🌡️+0.73°C above 1991-2020 average
🔥on track to be the warmest year on record
🌊Sea surface temperature second highest value
All details: https://t.co/3j50nqTUYf pic.twitter.com/M6klXSAP93
