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July 21, 2023: The Hottest Day Ever Recorded
Unprecedented heat wave: July 21, 2023, sets record as the hottest day ever recorded
In a dramatic climax to a week of record-breaking heat, July 21, 2023, was crowned the hottest day ever recorded on Earth. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global surface air temperature soared to an unprecedented 62.87°F (17.15°C). This sweltering milestone came just one day after the previous record of 62.76°F (17.09°C) was set on July 20, 2023, marking a rapid escalation in global temperatures.
To put this in perspective, the last record for the hottest day was on July 6, 2022, with a global temperature of 62.24°F (16.8°C), which itself surpassed the 2016 record. The recent series of temperature spikes suggests a worrying trend that extends far beyond a few hot days.
Copernicus, which has meticulously tracked climate data since 1940, reports that these temperatures are the highest in at least 120,000 years. This data underscores the severity of the current climate crisis, drawing a stark comparison to historical climate patterns and highlighting the rapid changes we are witnessing today.
The sudden leap in global temperatures is largely attributed to an unusual warming trend in Antarctica. The polar regions, particularly Antarctica, are experiencing accelerated…
