REM: Copernicus: March 2024, tenth month in a row that was the hottest ever

March 2024 was warmer globally than any previous March in the data record, with an average surface air temperature of 14.14°C, which was 0.73°C above the 1991-2020 average for March and 0.10°C above the previous high set in March 2016. 

This is according to the respected Copernicus Climate Change Service, funded by the EU.

The month was also 1.68°C warmer than an estimate of the March average for 1850-1900, the designated pre-industrial reference period. 

Scientists are concerned that the world is entering uncharted territory, though it is possible an unusually strong the weather phenomenon, El Niño, is continuing to raise temperatures.

Even so, Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus Climate Service, did not mince her words of warning: “March 2024 continues the sequence of climate records toppling for both air temperature and ocean surface temperatures, with the 10th consecutive record-breaking month.”

She continued: “The global average temperature is the highest on record, with the past 12 months being 1.58°C above pre-industrial levels. Stopping further warming requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.’’