Record ocean temperatures and El Niño drive global extreme weather

Record-breaking ocean temperatures and developing El Niño conditions continue to intensify severe weather events worldwide, according to climate monitoring services.

Data from the European Union's Copernicus service indicates that average sea surface temperatures across ice-free oceans reached an all-time high for July, surpassing previous records. Scientists observe that the surging marine heat, compounded by El Niño, is accelerating climate impacts across multiple continents. In Europe, prolonged heatwaves have generated widespread wildfires and drought, exposing over a hundred million people to temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Concurrently, altered atmospheric patterns threaten major disruptions to agriculture, critical infrastructure, and flood-vulnerable communities in South America and Asia.

Experts stress that human-driven global warming combined with cyclical ocean patterns will continue to elevate the frequency and severity of extreme weather.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, STV News, The Guardian, The Local Sweden.