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Record-Shattering Heat in September Signals Climate Crisis Emergency
New data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals that September 2023 was the hottest September on record, marking the fourth consecutive month of unprecedented heat. This alarming trend positions the current year, 2023, on track to become the hottest year in recorded history.
September 2023 shattered previous records by a staggering 0.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2020. According to Copernicus, since their records began in 1940, there has never been a month as extraordinarily hot for its time of the year.
These temperatures far exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold established in the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming. The extraordinary heat observed in September, following an already record-breaking summer, provides a stark preview of the extreme weather events that can result from soaring temperatures.
The month of September brought devastating flooding in Libya and other regions, numerous wildfires in Canada, South America’s record-breaking heatwaves, and record rainfall in New York. Ocean temperatures also reached unprecedented levels, with average sea surface temperatures reaching 20.92 degrees Celsius (69.66 Fahrenheit), the highest on record for September.
The record-breaking September heatwave is set to continue today, with the threat of some thundery downpours for some, as Sarah Keith-Lucas explains.
The Met Office has yellow warnings in force for thunderstorms: https://t.co/hzGQ4xVdRS pic.twitter.com/py10OWjVzC— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) September 10, 2023
Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist, aptly described September’s heat as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.” Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera noted that even in October, there is little respite from the heat, with European countries already breaking their all-time October temperature records.
With the likelihood of 2023 becoming the hottest year on record now exceeding 93%, the extreme heat in September places this year firmly on track to be the warmest ever, approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial average temperatures, as stated by Samantha Burgess.
Countries are set to convene at the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai in December to assess progress toward climate goals. Experts emphasize the necessity of accelerating efforts to phase out fossil fuels in the wake of these alarming climate trends.
Leading climate scientists have described the temperature increases observed this year as “gobsmackingly bananas” and “mind-boggling,” highlighting the urgent need for climate action.
Antarctica’s record-low sea ice coverage also raises concerns, as it contributes to ocean warming and rising sea levels, affecting ecosystems and coastal communities.
Dr. Simon Bradshaw, research director of the Climate Council, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are seeing records not just broken, but broken by big margins. This is deeply unsettling. One thing is clear – we must massively pick up the pace of action.”
