Record ocean temperatures and El Niño fuel global weather extremes

Global climate data indicates unprecedented marine heat alongside intensified extreme weather patterns worldwide, driven by climate change and developing El Niño conditions.

According to the European Union's Copernicus climate service, non-polar sea surface temperatures reached an all-time peak for July at 20.96 degrees Celsius, eclipsing prior records. Across Europe, consecutive heatwaves have broken regional records, heightened wildfire risks, and subjected approximately 150 million residents to temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.

Simultaneously, shifting meteorological patterns are placing pressure on agriculture, critical infrastructure, and vulnerable communities globally. In southern Brazil, regions including Porto Alegre remain on high alert for renewed flood hazards following earlier catastrophic inundations, while altered precipitation and heat waves disrupt supply chains and energy networks worldwide.

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