"Predictions and Records: Navigating a Warming Planet's Extreme Weather in 2024"

Climate scientists predict that 2024 could bring even higher global temperatures following a record-warm 2023, driven by the heat from the oceans and a strong El Niño event. The current El Niño, which typically raises global temperatures, could peak soon and contribute to a surge in warmth in the first half of 2024. This could potentially push average planetary temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels for the first time on an annual basis. The long-term warming trend is primarily attributed to human-caused climate change, with the last eight years being the hottest on record. The persistence of El Niño's warmth in the Pacific is expected to heavily influence global temperatures and weather patterns, despite the uncertainty of climate predictions in the changing climate landscape.