July 2021: Global Heat Records Shattered
Average temperatures for the entire globe in July have reached their highest on record, with global air temperatures surpassing previous records set in 2016 and 2022. The first two weeks of July were likely the warmest two-week period on record, and last month was the warmest June since at least 1850. The extreme heat and record temperatures are driven by the continued emissions of heat-trapping gases, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, and the return of El Niño. The effects of global warming include more frequent and intense periods of extreme heat, as well as other extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and flooding.