Earth, Canada's North shatter temperature records as heat skyrockets
Canada and the globe have set several temperature records ablaze this week, with sizzling heat being felt even in remote regions on the planet
Temperature records seem to topple quite frequently in our current climate, so these latest feats, while impressive, shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
With places in Northern Canada enduring unusual heat at the moment, enough to topple all-time highs, the globe just shattered daily average records for the hottest days ever.
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The global average temperature hit 17.01°C on Monday, making it the warmest day across the world on record. It was a feat never reported in history, but the record was short-lived. Just a mere 24 hours later, the world did it again. Tuesday’s average median hit 17.18°C -- raising the heat bar even higher.
Several heat waves contributing to record warmth across the globe
Hot temperatures are pretty commonplace across Southern Canada in the summer, but when the heat starts setting records in the Far North, that certainly makes it conversation-worthy.
Several global heat waves contributed to the latest record on Tuesday, July 4, including a notable accomplishment in Canada. Regions you wouldn't have thought of soared into the country's hot spots while crushing all-time heat records.
For these records, you will have to head north, way north. We're talking about near the Arctic Ocean in northern Quebec. Kuujjuarapik’s temperature beat every other Canadian community with 34.7°C. Meanwhile, not too far away, Kuujjuaq crushed its 76-year-old, all-time heat record by more than eight degrees.
Rivière aux Feuilles (Leaf River), Que., and Inuvik, N.W.T., also claimed all-time heat records, with temperatures in the low 30s recorded.
"It is July and national temperatures tend to peak in this month, but these temperatures this far north are simply unheard of," said Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. "Remember, these regions average around 17°C at this time of year. Nearly double was recorded on Tuesday."
Canada isn't the only country on the receiving end of the heat. The southern U.S. has experienced an intense heat dome in recent weeks and China has seen temperatures soar above 35°C. Elsewhere, North Africa has seen temperatures approach 50°C, parts of the Ukraine have recorded abnormal warmth and even Antarctica has documented anomalously high temperatures.
More heat to come in parts of Canada this week
Northern Quebec will continue to see unseasonably warm temperatures for the next few days, a pattern that will also be felt in southern sections of Canada.
Temperatures in the 30s and humidex values approaching the 40s will slowly creep east in Ontario and Quebec, eventually reaching Atlantic Canada this week. Southern B.C. will also pick up 30-degree temperatures heading into Friday, which is five to 10 degrees above normal for most.
El Niño and climate change could spell more record-shattering temperatures
El Niño is here, and by all accounts, it looks to grow stronger in the weeks and months ahead, affecting weather patterns across the globe.
It’s not shaping up to be a marginal event, either. Forecasters see an 84 per cent chance of this turning into “at least” a moderate El Niño or stronger, and better-than-even odds of a strong El Niño developing by the fall or winter months.
On top of the impacts from El Niño, climate change has been pointed to as a culprit for the extreme heat. These two factors will only work to exacerbate the intensifying heat and increase the likelihood of more temperature records falling.
The extreme temperatures also highlight the sluggish speed at which countries are making progress on reducing emissions.
"Unfortunately, it promises to only be the first in a series of new records set this year as increasing emissions of [carbon dioxide] and greenhouse gasses, coupled with a growing El Nino event, push temperatures to new highs," said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, in a statement quoted and reported by Reuters.
WATCH: Earth's hottest day on record just happened
With files from Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, Dennis Mersereau, a digital reporter at The Weather Network, and Reuters.
Follow Nathan Howes on Twitter.
