oceanlove

  February ends with extreme and unusual heat 01 March 2024 The month of February has ended with extreme heat in the southern hemisphere summer and high temperatures atypical of the northern hemisphere winter. The WMO community is monitoring the state of the climate and providing timely forecasts and warnings to protect lives and livelihoods.    500 hPa geopotential height and 850 hPa temperature Parts of North and South America, northwest and southeast Africa, southeast and far eastern Asia, western Australia and Europe all saw record-breaking temperatures, either on a daily basis or for the entire month.   “The anomalous heat is consistent with the persisting warming observed since June 2023, with seven consecutive new global monthly temperature records, including January 2024. Global sea surface temperatures are record high. Whilst the El Niño event has stoked temperatures in some parts of the world, human induced climate change is the long-term major cont...