Scientists confirm July 2019 set a new global heat record

July was the hottest month measured on Earth since records began in 1880, the latest in a long line of peaks that scientists say backs up predictions for manmade climate change.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that July was 0.95 degrees Celsius warmer than the 20th century average of 15.8 C for the month.

Because July is generally the warmest month on the calendar, meteorologists say this means it also set a new all-time monthly record for the past 140 years.

Last month’s temperatures narrowly topped the previous July record, set in 2016, by 0.03 C.

The results had been expected after several European countries including France, Belgium and Germany reported that July smashed previous national temperature records. The Swedish hamlet of Markusvinsa recorded a sizzling 34.8 C, the highest temperature measured north of the Arctic Circle.

According to NOAA’s records, 9 of the 10 hottest Julys on record have occurred since 2005 and last month was the 43rd consecutive July above the 20th century average.

The record temperatures notched up in July were accompanied with other major landmarks. Average Arctic sea ice, for example, was almost 20% below average in July, less even than the previous historic low of July 2012.

The July peaks came hot on the heels of a sizzling June, which ended up being the hottest June recorded over the past 140 years.

The year to date is also 0.95 C above the long-term average, still slightly behind 2016 and on a par with 2017, NOAA said.

Meteorologists expect 2019 won’t beat the current record for warmest year, set in 2016.

And in Malta...

In Malta, temperatures were higher than expected with an average temperature of 28.1 ˚C as opposed to the climate norm of 26.6 ˚C. The average maximum temperature rose to 33.1 ˚C, accompanied also by a higher minimum temperature of 23.1 ˚C, surpassing the average 21.7 ˚C.

The highest temperature ever recorded for the month of July in Malta was on 9 July, 1988, when the heat reached 42.7 ˚C. This year, the 31st of July marked the hottest day of the year so far, with the thermometer showing 38.4 ˚C.

The lowest temperature last month was recorded on the 1st of the month with the temperature briefly dropping to 20.2 ˚C. In July, seven days had a maximum temperature of 35 ˚C or over, two of which (21st and 31st) peaked at 5 ˚C more than the maximum norm of 31.6 ˚C.

In July, the Met Office issued three separate heat advisory warnings for the public, on the 16th, 18th and 29th. The public was warned of the temperature reaching a maximum of 35 ˚C or more for the coming days.

The average sea surface temperature for July was 26.3 ˚C, which is notably higher than the expected 24.7 ˚C. The highest seas surface temperature for July was registered on the 23rd and 24th at 28.2 ˚C, while the lowest value was 22.8 ˚C on the 1st of the month.

July was also considerably brighter than estimated, surpassing the expected average of 11.7 hours and instead providing a mean of 12.3 hours. The sun shone longest on the 2nd of July, with 13.3 hours of sunlight recorded and was the dullest on the 14th with a value of 10.1 hours. In total, 382.1 hours of bright sunshine graced our islands this month, higher than the norm of 364.1 hours.

June 2019, meanwhile, was hottest to be recorded on the Maltese Islands since 1923. June was not only warmer but also drier than average locally, given that no precipitation was measured during the month. June 2019 was therefore one of only four Junes in the past 70 years to have not recorded any precipitation whatsoever.