In the 19th century, it was predicted that Earth would experience increased heating caused by the use of fossil fuels. Well, these predictions are already happening. In July this year, the global temperatures rose to unprecedented heights, bringing about some of the unofficial hottest days in history. How hot was it on these days? In which places was this heat significantly felt? This article will answer these questions.

What could cause the anomaly

It’s normal for global temperatures to rise at certain times of the year. This occasional heat is powered by concentrated heat spheres called heat domes. However, in recent times, heat domes have been causing brutal heat waves. Is this change natural?

The main culprit turns out to be the influence of humans. Human actions have long been predicted to have the ability to increase the frequency of droughts and simultaneous heat waves globally. In plain words, we’re responsible for warming our planet.

July 3- Exceeding boundaries

While most of July 2023 was hotter than usual, Monday, July 3 stood out. The temperature on this day made us know we were in for a ‘hot’ month. So, exactly how hot was the Earth’s temperature on July 3?

The global daily average temperature on July 3 was 17.01 degrees Celsius(62.6 degrees Fahrenheit). This was the first time in 44 years that the average temperature went above the 17-degree Celsius limit. Hence, July 3 holds a record.

July 4- When we thought we’d seen it all

While we were still talking about the unusual temperature of July 3, we didn’t know Independence Day had something bigger in store for us. Although we weren’t necessarily expecting a drastically cool day, we didn’t expect an even hotter day.

On the 4th of July, the average temperature rose to 17.18 degrees Celsius(62.9 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature was almost one degree Celsius warmer than the 1979 to 2000 average. Needless to say, the heat spike affected the whole world.

Records shattered in July

July 2023 is an unforgettable month in history due to the extreme temperatures experienced on our planet. While June 2023 was also hot, July exceeded June’s records. July 2023 is the hottest month since July 2019. 

The first three weeks of July 2023 have been the warmest three-week period in history. Although some days were significantly hot in July, these first three weeks were generally hot- they temporarily exceeded global mean temperatures.

Dangers of the recent heat waves

When global temperatures rise higher than normal, it is a discomfort for humans in general. Since our bodies aren’t made for extremely hot temperatures, it’s crucial to be hydrated. However, even hydration doesn’t mean the discomforting effects of heat waves won’t be felt.

Looking at the larger picture, these recent heat spikes may be a foretaste of what is to come. Although scientists track the Earth’s warming with years and decades(and not days), they are positive that there would be more record-breaking temperatures.