May 2024 was world's second-hottest on record as Europe faces early heatwave

May 2024 was the world's second-hottest on record, according to the European Union's climate monitoring service Copernicus, which announced the findings on Wednesday. Europe was particularly affected by an unusually early and intense heatwave that brought temperatures well above normal levels across western parts of the continent.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the average global temperature in May was 1.42 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average from the 19th century. This temperature anomaly continues a pattern of increasingly frequent record-breaking temperatures that have occurred in recent years worldwide.

The situation was particularly dramatic in Western Europe, where several countries recorded new temperature records for the month of May. Britain, France, Ireland, and Portugal all reported exceptionally high values. The extreme heat was attributed to what meteorologists call a 'heat dome' - a mass of warm air from northern Africa that spread across large parts of Western Europe, creating persistently high temperatures.

The Copernicus service, which is considered one of the leading institutions for climate data analysis, collects and analyzes temperature data from around the world. The organization uses both satellite data and weather station measurements to determine precise global temperature trends. The current data confirms an ongoing trend of rising average temperatures globally.

Climate scientists increasingly describe such extreme weather events as the 'new normal' for Europe and other regions of the world. The early timing of the heatwave in Europe is particularly concerning, as it suggests shifting seasonal patterns. Typically, the highest temperatures in Europe occur during the summer months of July and August.

The impacts of the heatwave were clearly visible in various European cities. In Vienna, for example, people sought relief under water fountains and other public cooling facilities. Similar scenes played out in other European capitals, where populations faced unusually high temperatures for the time of year.

The current temperature records fit into a larger pattern of accelerating climate change. Scientists have been warning for years about the consequences of rising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The accumulation of temperature records in recent years supports these projections and demonstrates the urgency of climate protection measures.

The data from Copernicus adds to a growing body of evidence showing that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. The service tracks not only temperature records but also other climate indicators, providing comprehensive monitoring of global climate patterns.

For the coming months, meteorologists expect a continuation of above-average temperatures in many regions of Europe. The early heatwave could be a harbinger of a particularly hot summer in 2024, which could bring additional challenges for agriculture, energy supply, and public health across the continent.