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As temperatures reach their hottest of the year in the US around the world, the first half of 2020 is already the second-warmest year on record with six more months to go, according to the latest NOAA and NASA data.
Over the weekend of July 17-19, 2020, the US is expecting that 90 percent of the nation will experience temperatures over 90 degrees, while the heat index will push the “feels like” temperatures into triple digits. You might want to start looking for the best deodorant now because it’s going to be a scorcher!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released their data on world temperatures this week and the findings for land and ocean temperature in the six months between June-January 2020 show that the earth is currently experiencing its second-hottest year ever recorded – and the year is only halfway through.
Experts say the year 2020 is almost certain to finish as one of the top-five warmest years ever recorded. Looking at the data currently, statisticians give it a 36% chance of 2020 winding up hotter than 2016, which was the result of an El Niño pattern. Currently, 2020 shows no such pattern.
However, last week, the NOAA issued a La Niña watch which means this weather condition could influence temperature and precipitation patterns around the world, as well as contributing to a more active hurricane season.
The National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted a probability graph and this statement: “A #LaNina watch has been issued. #ENSO-neutral is favored to continue through boreal summer, with a 50-55% chance of La Niña development during Northern Hemisphere fall 2020 and continuing through winter 2020-21 (~50% chance).”
Predictions by experts this year match those of the NOAA and National Hurricane Center (NHC) that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will see above-average activity.
Scientists believe the evidence for global warming is undeniable. One proof: The most recent seven years make up the hottest years on earth in 140 years of record-keeping, ABC’s WQAD8 reported.
June 2020 marked the 426th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average.
In an unprecedented event, the hottest temperature ever recorded in Siberia occurred, topping the triple-digit mark. On the 20th of June, the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk reached 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Three records were set, one for the town itself, one for the region of Siberia, and one for the Arctic Circle.
The only other time the region recorded an unusually high temperature was between February-5-7 in 1933, when Verkhoyansk recorded a high temperature of 93.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Climate experts did not expect to see global warming increase temperatures in Siberia to this amount four another 80 years – until the year 2100.
By comparison, Miami, Florida, known for its warmth and sunshine, has only reached 100 degrees once since the city began recording temperature records in 1896.
