Last month was Earth’s warmest July on record, extending the streak of record-high monthly global temperatures to 14 successive months.
The world’s sea-surface temperatures in July were the second-warmest on record, ending a run of 15 consecutive, record-setting months, according to data and scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Climate by the numbers
July 2024
The average July global surface temperature was 2.18 degrees F (1.21 degrees C) above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees F (15.8 degrees C), ranking as the warmest July in NOAA’s 175-year global record. July 2024 was also the 14th-consecutive month of record-high temperatures for the planet.
Last month’s temperatures were above average across much of the global land surface except for Alaska, southern South America, eastern Russia, Australia and western Antarctica. Africa, Asia and Europe had their warmest Julys on record, while North America saw its second-warmest July.
The global ocean temperature was the second warmest on record, ending a streak of 15 consecutive months of record-high temperatures. Sea-surface temperatures were above average over most areas, while parts of the tropical eastern Pacific and southeastern Pacific were below average.
Year to date
The year-to-date (YTD January–July) global surface temperature was 2.30 degrees F (1.28 degrees C) above the 20th-century average, making it the warmest YTD on record. Africia, Europe and South America each experienced their warmest YTD temperatures.
According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Rankings Outlook, there is a 77% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record and nearly a 100% chance it will rank in the top five.
Other notable climate events
Global sea-ice coverage was below average: July had the second smallest sea ice coverage in the 46-year record at 8.49 million square miles, which was 1.09 million square miles below the 1991–2020 average. Arctic sea ice coverage was below average (by 330,000 square miles), and Antarctic sea ice extent was below average (by 760,000 square miles).
July tropical activity was below average: Seven named storms developed across the globe in July, which was below the 1991–2020 average. The Atlantic basin had two, including Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record; the East Pacific had three and the West Pacific, two.
