May was the world’s second-hottest on record, EU scientists say
May 2024 ranked as the second-hottest on record globally, with temperatures 1.42°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Western Europe faced severe early-season heatwaves, while El Niño conditions contributed to extreme Pacific Ocean temperatures and deadly floods in China and Turkey.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported on June 10 that May 2024 was the world’s second-hottest May since records began in 1940. Global temperatures averaged 1.42°C above pre-industrial levels, driven by climate change and the developing El Niño pattern. Western Europe experienced one of its most intense early-year heatwaves, aligning with projections of accelerated warming in the region. Parts of the Pacific Ocean recorded unusually high temperatures as conditions shifted toward El Niño, a cyclical phenomenon occurring every two to seven years. El Niño weakens trade winds, warming eastern Pacific waters and disrupting global weather patterns—often leading to higher temperatures, droughts, and heavy rains. May also saw deadly flooding in China and Turkey, reflecting the extreme weather linked to rising global temperatures. C3S noted that the heatwave in Europe matched scientific expectations for climate change impacts on the fastest-warming continent. The El Niño pattern is expected to strengthen in the coming months, likely intensifying extreme weather worldwide. This includes potential droughts, floods, and further temperature spikes, exacerbating climate-related risks globally.
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