July 2024 was Earth’s warmest July since global record-keeping began in 1850, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, or NCEI, reported August 14. Climatologically, July is the warmest month of the year, so as the warmest July on record, July 2024 was more likely than not the warmest month on record for the globe since 1850, NOAA said. The past 10 Julys have been the 10 warmest Julys on record.
As opposed to being focused in one region or another, the record heat was unusually widespread, with 13.8% of the world’s surface experiencing record heat – beating the previous July record set in 2023 by 5.4%. July also was the 14th consecutive month of record-high global temperatures, breaking the longest record warm global temperature streak in the modern record (since 1980) previously set from May 2015—May 2016.
NASA placed July at 1.44 degrees Celsius (2.59 °F) above the 1880-1899 period, its best estimate for when preindustrial temperatures last occurred. This beat the previous July record (from 2023) by a scant 0.02 degrees Celsius (0.04 °F).
The Japan Meteorological Agency and European Copernicus Climate Change Service rated July 2024 as the second-warmest July on record, slightly behind July 2023. Minor differences in rankings often occur among various research groups, the result of different ways they handle data-sparse regions such as the Arctic. The European group said, “Although July 2024 was not quite as warm as July 2023 on average, the Earth experienced its two hottest days in the ERA5 data record. The daily global-average temperature reached 17.16°C and 17.15°C in ERA5 on 22 and 23 July. Given the small difference, similar to the level of uncertainty in the ERA5 data, we cannot say which of the two days was the hottest with complete certainty.”
Land areas had their warmest July on record in 2024, according to NOAA, but global ocean temperatures were the second-warmest on record, breaking a streak of 15 consecutive months of record-warm ocean temperatures (April 2023 – June 2024). The recent record heat in the oceans has brought on a global coral bleaching event, the fourth one in recorded history (1998, 2010, 2014-17, and now 2024).
It was the warmest July on record for Africa, Asia, and Europe, second-warmest for North America, 13th-warmest for South America, and 29 th -warmest for Oceania. The Main Development Region for hurricanes in the Atlantic had its second-warmest July on record, and the Caribbean had its warmest July.
Satellite-measured temperatures of the planet’s lower atmosphere in July were the warmest on record for the month.
The January to July global surface temperature ranked warmest in NOAA’s 175-year record. According to NOAA/NCEI’s statistical analysis, there is a 77% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record and a 100% chance that it will rank in the top five. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather gives a 95% chance 2024 will beat 2023 as the warmest year on record; climate scientist Gavin Schmidt gives it an 88% chance, assuming a mild La Niña event is in place by the end of the year.
July 2024 was the wettest month on record globally for atmospheric moisture, as measured via precipitable water or by dewpoint (see Tweets below). Canada’s largest city, Toronto, appears to have recorded its wettest month on record, with 215.4 mm (8.48 inches) coming in just ahead of 213.8 mm (8.42 inches) recorded in October 1954 (a total boosted by rains associated with catastrophic Hurricane Hazel). This record is prelimlinary, though, as several days of data were missing from July 2013, another historically wet month.
“Hottest month on record” extends to two U.S. states, dozens of towns and cities
The contiguous U.S. posted its 11th-warmest July, as a very wet and slightly-cooler-than-average Corn Belt was flanked by intense western and eastern heat – including the hottest month ever recorded in California (statewide average temperature 81.7°F) and New Hampshire (71.3°F).
On the local level, a diverse set of towns and cities recorded their warmest month on record, according to weather historian Chris Burt (see list below).
ALL-TIME HOTTEST MONTH ON RECORD SET IN JULY 2024
City Average temp in July 2024 Previous hottest month
Manchester, NH 78.1 77.7 (July 2020)
Hartford, CT 78.6 78.2 (July 2019)
Albany, NY 77.3 77.1 (July 1887)
Las Vegas, NV 99.9 97.3 (July 2023
Needles, CA 103.2 101.8 (July 2023)
Kingman, AZ 88.9 88.5 (July 2023)
Death Valley* 108.5 108.1 (July 2018)
Barstow, CA 95.3 93.4 (July 2023)
Palm Springs, CA 100.0 98.5 (July 2023)
Yuma, AZ 97.9 97.5 (July 2023)
El Centro, CA 97.6 tie 97.6 (July 2006)
Blythe, CA 100.7 99.1 (July 2023)
Bakersfield, CA 90.8 90.0 (July 2021)
Fresno, CA 90.0 88.7 (July 2021)
Merced, CA 85.4 84.2 (July 1931)
Madera, CA 85.5 84.8 (July 1960)
Livermore, CA 78.1 77.2 (Aug. 2020)
San Jose, CA 75.5 73.7 (Aug. 2020)
Modesto, CA 85.0 83.9 (July 2006)
Stockton, CA 83.2 82.0 (July 2006)
Sacramento, CA 81.0 80.4 (July 1988)
Blue Canyon, CA 76.7 75.6 (July 2021)
Red Bluff, CA 88.0 87.3 (July 1988)
Redding, CA 89.6 88.3 (Aug. 1967)
Mt. Shasta, CA 75.4 74.8 (July 2021)
Ukiah, CA 81.2 79.2 (July 2021)
Reno, NV 82.1 81.8 (July 2018
Roseburg, OR 76.7 76.1 (July 2015)
Salem, OR 74.4 73.3 (July 2021)
Spokane, WA 78.2 77.5 (July 2021)
The tally of U.S. billion-dollar weather disasters so far in 2024 has been 19. The average for a full year for the most recent five years (2019–2023) is 20.4; the record was 28, set in 2023.
Death Valley records hottest monthly average temperature ever measured on Earth
The Furnace Creek station in Death Valley, California, recorded an average temperature in July of 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5°F), making it the hottest monthly average temperature ever measured anywhere on Earth, according to weather historian Chris Burt and weather records expert Maximiliano Herrera (see Tweet below). The previous world record was 42.3 degrees Celsius (108.1°F) set in July 2018 at Furnace Creek.
The hottest temperature during July 2024 at Furnace Creek was 54.1 degrees Celsius (129.4°F) on July 8, which ties as the third-highest reliably measured temperature in world history, according to Mr. Herrera and Mr. Burt. Here is their list of top-10 hottest reliably measured global temperatures:
1) 54.4° C (130.0°F), 7/09/2021, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
2) 54.4° C (129.9°F), 8/16/2020, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
3) 54.1° C (129.4°F), 7/8/2024, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
3) 54.1° C (129.4°F), 7/10/2021, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
5) 54.0° C (129.2°F), 6/30/2013, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
5) 54.0° C (129.2°F), 7/21/2016, Mitribah (Kuwait);
7) 53.9° C (129.0°F), 7/17/1998, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
7) 53.9° C (129.0°F), 7/19/2005, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
7) 53.9° C (129.0°F), 7/06/2007, Furnace Creek (California, U.S.);
7) 53.9° C (129.0°F), 7/22/2016, Basra International Airport (Iraq);
Note that another station in Death Valley at Saratoga Spring has had two measurements that would make this list: 54.4 degrees Celsius (130.0°F) on Jul. 8, 2024, and 53.9 degrees Celsius (129.0°F) on Jul. 16, 2023. However, the radiation shields on the type of thermometer shelters used at this site (called a RAWS station) are substandard, and temperatures measured are too hot on summer days with light winds.
Neutral ENSO conditions still expected to transition to La Niña this fall
The 2023-24 El Niño event in the Eastern Pacific ended during May, and neutral conditions are now in place, NOAA reported in its latest monthly discussion of the state of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. La Niña is still projected to prevail during 2024-25, but the slower-than-expected pace of development thus far has chipped away slightly at the probabilities in the most recent forecasts.
According to the official NOAA probabilistic forecast issued August 8, which is based on expert judgment drawing from observations and model data, there is now a 50% chance of La Niña conditions developing by August-September-October. These odds are down from the 70% odds for the same period given in the forecast issued in July. La Niña conditions are expected to persist into the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2024-2025, with a 74% chance during November-January, again down slightly from 79% in the prior forecast.
A separate joint outlook from NOAA and Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society, which is issued in the later part of each month and based purely on model simulations, has been somewhat less bullish on La Niña for some time. For the climatological peak of the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season (August-September-October), the mid-August NOAA/IRI forecast called for a 50% chance of La Niña, a 49% chance of ENSO-neutral, and a mere 1% chance of El Niño.
El Niño conditions tend to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity through an increase in wind shear, but La Niña conditions tend to have the opposite effect. There’s not a lot of difference in Atlantic hurricane activity between La Niña and neutral conditions.
Arctic sea ice: 6th-lowest July extent on record
Arctic sea ice extent during July 2024 was the sixth-lowest in the 46-year satellite record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, or NSIDC. The Arctic had its third-warmest July on record. Antarctic sea ice extent in July was the second-lowest on record, well below all other years except for 2023. The Antarctic region had its fifth-warmest July on record.
Notable global heat and cold marks for July 2024
The information below is courtesy of Maximiliano Herrera. Follow him on Twitter @extremetemps:
- Hottest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere: 54.1°C (129.4°F) at Death Valley, California, USA, July 8;
- Coldest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere: -22.8°C (-9.0°F) at Summit, Greenland, July 22;
- Hottest temperature in the Southern Hemisphere: 39.3°C (102.7°F) at San Jose de Chiquitos, Bolivia, July 26; and
- Coldest temperature in the Southern Hemisphere: -82.1°C (-115.8°F) at Dome Fuji, Antarctica, July 16.
Major weather stations in July: 126 all-time heat records, 2 all-time cold records
Among global stations with a record of at least 40 years, 126 set, not just tied, an all-time heat record in July; two stations set an all-time cold record:
Mamakan (Russia) max. 38.7°C, Jul. 2;
Mama (Russia) max. 38.4°C, Jul. 2;
Vitim (Russia) max. 37.1°C, Jul. 2;
Chara (Russia) max. 35.8°C, Jul. 2;
Urjupino (Russia) max. 39.4°C, Jul. 3;|
Birjand (Iran) max. 43.4°C, Jul. 4;
Kayumi (Japan) max. 39.7°C, Jul. 5;
Raleigh (North Carolina, USA) max. 41.1°C, Jul. 5;
Palm Springs (California, USA) max. 51.1°C, Jul. 5;
Redding (California, USA) max. 48.3°C, Jul. 6;
Hopa (California, USA) max. 45.6°C, Jul. 6;
Wynyard (Australia) min. -4.0°C, Jul. 6;
Shizuoka (Japan) max. 40.0°C, Jul. 7;
Namie (Japan) max. 38.8 °C, Jul. 7;
Kawauchi (Japan) max. 36.7 °C, Jul. 7;
Ishikawa (Japan) max. 37.8 °C, Jul. 7;
Nishinomaki (Japan) max. 39.8 °C, Jul. 7;
Yamanaka (Japan) max. 34.9°C, Jul. 7;
Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) max. 48.9°C, Jul. 7;
Fuchu (Japan) max. 39.2°C, Jul. 8;
Shingu (Japan) max. 39.6°C, Jul. 8;
Hayfield (California, USA) max. 49.4°C, Jul. 8;
Gualeguaychu (Argentina) min. -7.6°C, Jul. 9;
Nagahama (Japan) max. 36.1°C, Jul. 9;
Mina (Nevada, USA) max. 43.9 9 July
Deseret (Utah, USA) max. 43.9 10 July
Biskra (Algeria) max. 49.6°C, Jul. 10;
Batna (Algeria) max. 45.1°C, Jul. 10;
Ouarzazate (Morocco) max. 43.2°C, Jul. 10;
Midelt (Morocco) max. 40.7°C, Jul. 11;
Milford (Utah, USA) max. 42.2°C, Jul. 11;
Al Ahsa (Saudi Arabia) max. 51.3°C, Jul. 12;
Wadi Dawasser (Saudi Arabia) max. 48.3°C, Jul. 13;
Volodymyr Volynskyi (Ukraine) max. 36.7°C, Jul. 13;
Zitkovici (Belarus) max. 37.9°C, Jul. 13;
Mohyliv-Podil’S’Kyi (Ukraine) max. 40.2°C, Jul. 15;
Oku (Japan) max. 34.3°C, Jul. 15;
Vinnytsia (Ukraine) max. 39.2°C, Jul. 16;
Chernivtsi (Ukraine) max. 37.9°C, Jul. 16;
Anapa (Russia) max. 39.9°C, Jul. 17;
Yellowknife (Canada) max. 32.7°C, Jul. 17;
Alexandropolis (Greece) max. 41.4°C, Jul. 18;
Nagahama (Japan) max. 36.3°C, Jul. 19;
Naha (Japan) max. 36.0°C, Jul. 19;
Iriomote (Japan) max. 35.9°C, Jul. 19;
Gunge (Japan) max. 38.0°C, Jul. 21;
Hitachi Omiya (Japan) max. 37.3°C, Jul. 22;
Sakahata (Japan) max. 37.4°C, Jul. 22;
Ikawa (Japan) max. 36.2°C, Jul. 23;
Saku (Japan) max. 37.5°C, Jul. 23;
Wanquan (China) max. 39.1°C, Jul. 23;
Kasba Tadla (Morocco) max. 48.3°C, Jul. 23;
Ifrane (Morocco) max. 37.8°C, Jul. 24;
Dao (China) max. 40.2°C, Jul. 24;
Shaodong (China) max. 40.1°C, Jul. 24;
Lanshan (China) max. 40.0°C, Jul. 24;
Kahoku (Japan) max. 37.1°C, Jul. 25;
Kousa (Japan) max. 38.8°C, Jul. 25;
Matsushima (Japan) max. 37.4°C, Jul. 25;
Yatsushiro (Japan) max. 38.6°C, Jul. 25;
Yanhe (China) max. 42.6 °C, Jul. 25;
Cen Cong (China) max. 40.9 °C, Jul. 25;
Sinan (China) max. 40.8 °C, Jul. 25;
Shi Chui (China) max. 40.7 °C, Jul. 25;
Yuping (China) max. 40.6 °C, Jul. 25;
Banyan (China) max. 40.5 °C, Jul. 25;
Jianhe (China) max. 39.8 °C, Jul. 25;
Suning (China) max. 39.1 °C, Jul. 25;
Guantang (China) max. 38.7 °C, Jul. 25;
Liping (China) max. 38.6 °C, Jul. 25;
Carey (China) max. 38.2 °C, Jul. 25;
Leishan (China) max. 37.2 °C, Jul. 25;
Bu Yun (China) max. 36.5 °C, Jul. 25;
Wenxue (China) max. 36.3 °C, Jul. 25;
Udang (China) max. 36.3 °C, Jul. 25;
Sohu (China) max. 36.1 °C, Jul. 25;
Wanshan (China) max. 35.6 °C, Jul. 25;
Danwu (China) max. 35.3 °C, Jul. 25;
Wengan (China) max. 35.1 °C, Jul. 25;
Rongan (China) max. 40.2 °C, Jul. 25;
Yanshan (China) max. 39.9 °C, Jul. 25;
Guanyang (China) max. 39.9 °C, Jul. 25;
Nandan (China) max. 36.3 °C, Jul. 25;
Jianghua (China) max. 39.5 °C, Jul. 25;
Linwu (China) max. 39.3°C, Jul. 25;
Guilin (China) max. 40.3°C, Jul. 26;
Zhaoping (China) max. 40.2°C, Jul. 26;
Mengshan (China) max. 40.2°C, Jul. 26;
Lipu (China) max. 40.2°C, Jul. 26;
Bama (China) max. 40.1°C, Jul. 26;
Daxin (China) max. 40.1°C, Jul. 26;
Liucheng (China) max. 39.7°C, Jul. 26;
Duan (China) max. 39.7°C, Jul. 26;
Liujiang (China) max. 39.2°C, Jul. 26;
Huanjiang (China) max. 39.2°C, Jul. 26;
Luo Ni (China) max. 38.9°C, Jul. 26;
Dushan (China) max. 34.6°C, Jul. 26;
Xiuwen (China) max. 34.3 26 July
Sabang (Indonesia) max. 36.4°C, Jul. 26;
Pasighat (India) max. 39.7°C, Jul. 27;
Yazd (Iran) max. 46.1°C, Jul. 27;
Esfahan (Iran) max. 44.6°C, Jul. 28;
Shiraz (Iran) max. 43.5°C, Jul. 28;
Minamise (Japan) max. 38.4°C, Jul. 28;
Miri (Malaysia) max. 36.3°C, Jul. 28;
Koga (Japan) max. 40.0°C, Jul. 29;
Sano (Japan) max. 41.0°C, Jul. 29;
Miyakejima (Japan) max. 33.1°C, Jul. 29;
Kamigori (Japan) max. 37.7°C, Jul. 29;
Hiketa (Japan) max. 37.1°C, Jul. 29;
Yining (China) max. 39.3°C, Jul. 29;
Nyalam (China) max. 23.1°C, Jul. 29;
Cona (China) max. 18.9°C, Jul. 29;
Durres (Albania) max. 41.8°C, Jul. 29;
Gaspe (Canada) max. 36.1°C, Jul. 29;
Miyazaki (Japan) max. 38.2°C, Jul. 30;
Hachijo Island (Japan) max. 35.5°C, Jul. 30;
Matsuzaki (Japan) max. 37.3°C, Jul. 30;
Ikawuni (Japan) max. 38.3°C, Jul. 30;
Inukai (Japan) max. 39.2°C, Jul. 30;
Yutian (China) max. 41.9°C, Jul. 30;
Yanqi (China) max. 38.9°C, Jul. 30;
Bomi (China) max. 32.6°C, Jul. 30;
Plateau Rosa (Italy) max. 15.0°C, Jul. 30;
Barcelona Fabra Observatory (Spain) max. 40.0°C, Jul. 30;
Nagashima (Japan) max. 38.7°C, Jul. 31;
Tokashiki (Japan) max. 32.9°C, Jul. 31; and
Gomenmachi (Japan) max. 37.2°C, Jul. 31.
Fifteen all-time national/territorial heat records beaten or tied as of the end of July
Cocos Islands (Australia): 32.8°C (91.0°F), Feb. 28, Feb. 29, Apr. 7 (tie);
Costa Rica: 41.0°C (105.8°F) at Cerro Huacalito, Mar. 6; broken again with 41.5°C, Mar. 23, at the same location;
Comoros: 36.2°C (97.2°F) at Hahaya Airport, Mar. 12;
Congo Brazzaville: 39.6°C (103.3°F) at Impfondo, Mar. 13;
Maldives: 35.1°C (95.2°F) at Hanimadhoo, Mar. 24; tied at the same location on Apr. 11;
Togo: 44.0°C (111.2°F) at Mango, Mar. 31;
Mali: 48.5°C (119.3°F) at Kayes, Apr. 3;
Belize: 42.3°C (108.1°F) at Barton Creek, Apr. 10; tied on May 17 at Chaa Creek;
Chad: 48.0°C (118.4°F) at Faya, Apr. 24; tied on Jun. 5 at the same location;
Cambodia: 42.8°C (109.0°F) at Preah Viehar and Svay Leu, Apr. 27;
Laos: 43.7°C (110.7°F) at Tha Ngon, May 1; (3rd time that the previous all-time record was beaten in 2024);
Ghana: 44.6°C (112.3°F) at Navrongo, May 1;
Palau: 35.0°C (95.0°F) at Babelthuap Int. Airport, May 29 (tie); beaten again with (Palau) 35.6°C at Koror on Jun. 2; and
Egypt: 50.9°C (123.6°F) at Assuan, Jun. 7; and
Mexico: 52.0°C (125.6°F) at Tepache, Jun. 20 (tie).
One hundred fourty-seven additional monthly national/territorial heat records beaten or tied as of the end of July
In addition to the 15 all-time national/territorial records set so far in 2024 (plus five nations that tied or broke their all-time record in multiple months), 147 nations or territories have set or tied monthly all-time heat records as of the end of July 2024, for a total of 166 such records:
- Jan. (15): Mayotte, Dominica, Saba, Cocos Islands, Malta, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, Maldives, Andorra, Portugal, Costa Rica, UK, Seychelles, Martinique, St. Barthelemy
- Feb. (18): Maldives, French Guiana, Guyana, Dominica, Curacao, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, U.S. Virgin Islands, Belize, North Korea, Morocco, French Southern Territories, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Peru, Laos, Chad, Togo
- Mar. (24): Paraguay, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Dominica, Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, French Guiana, Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Saba, British Indian Ocean Territories, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Guatemala, Croatia, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Benin, Burkina Faso
- Apr. (28): Dominica, French Southern Territories, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Guyana, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Saba, Comoros, British Indian Ocean Territories, Mauritius, China, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Cape Verde, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Cyprus, Turkey, Niger, Jordan, Israel, Vietnam, Colombia, St. Barthelemy, Laos
- May (20): Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Tuvalu, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Niue, Brazil, Martinique, Maldives, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Saba, Cocos Islands, Niger, Kuwait, Iraq, St. Eustatius
- Jun. (26): French Southern Territories, Guatemala, Aruba, Curacao, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Grenada, St Eustatius, North Korea, New Zealand, Dominica, Cocos Islands, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Martinique, Taiwan, Paraguay, Algeria, Turkey, St Pierre and Miquelon, Kuwait, China, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Malaysia
- Jul. (16): U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Cocos Islands, Aruba, British Indian Ocean Territories, Dominica, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Mauritius, Maldives, Curacao, Solomon Islands, Northern Marianas, Brunei. Mozambique, French Guiana
Two monthly national/territorial cold records beaten or tied as of the end of July
China set an all-time cold record for the month of February.
Qatar set an all-time cold record for the month of March.
Hemispherical and continental temperature records in 2024
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in January in Asia: 28.5°C (83.3°F) at Bangkok Klong Thoey, Thailand, Jan. 14
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in February in Asia: 29.1°C (84.1°F) at Diego Garcia (British Indian Territories), Feb. 18
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in March in South America: 31.6°C (88.9°F) at Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay, Mar. 17
- Highest temperature ever recorded in April in Africa: 48.5°C (119.3°F) at Kayes, Mali, Apr. 3
- Highest temperature ever recorded in May in North America: 51.1°C (124.0°F) at Gallinas, Mexico, May 9
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in May in the Southern Hemisphere: 29.7°C (85.5°F) at Funafuti, Tuvalu, May 21
- Highest temperature ever recorded in June in Africa: 50.9°C (123.6°F) at Assuan, Egypt, Jun. 7
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in June in the Southern Hemisphere: 29.3°C (84.7°F) at Funafuti, Tuvalu, Jun. 18
- Highest minimum temperature ever recorded in July in the Southern Hemisphere: 28.8°C (83.8°F) at Nukunonu, Tokelau, New Zealand territory, Jul. 16
Our next update post on Hurricane Ernesto will be on Friday, August 16.
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