Earth records its hottest August ever — WMO

According to recently published meteorological data, August this year was the hottest on record. The World Meteorological Organization /WMO/ reported this on Friday, noting that the consequences were felt across the planet.

The Northern Hemisphere recorded its warmest summer, while the Southern Hemisphere experienced a winter whose temperature approached a record level. Meanwhile, the extent of sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic was below average in August.

In August, periods of intense heat were observed in Western Europe, continuing the series of extreme temperature events that began in May. Serious drought was reported in France, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and the United Kingdom.

The same month, widespread drought was also observed across much of Central and Eastern Europe, in some cases continuing from May. Water levels in major European rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Southern Bug and Dnieper, were exceptionally low.

According to the WMO, all 10 of the warmest Augusts on record have occurred since 2016.