This summer has shattered numerous heat records, highlighting a significant escalation in global temperatures. August 2023 was the hottest August ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has been tracking data for 174 years.
This record-setting month capped off the hottest three-month period from June to August ever, marking the warmest meteorological winter on record for the Southern Hemisphere.
Global sea surface temperatures for August were the highest ever documented, continuing a streak of five consecutive months where each month’s sea surface temperatures set new records.
August 2023 also saw the largest sea surface temperature anomaly on record, reflecting a significant deviation from long-term averages.
Extreme heat triggers coral bleaching in the Florida Keys and fuels severe global weather events.In the Florida Keys, specifically at Alligator Reef, transplanted elkhorn coral exhibited bleaching due to prolonged high-water temperatures, a condition that was not evident just a week earlier. This bleaching serves as a visible indicator of the environmental stress caused by extreme heat.
Sea ice extent in August reached a historic low, falling 550,000 square miles below the previous record set in August 2019. The term “extent” refers to the total area with at least 15 percent sea ice cover, which has significantly decreased.
Contributing to these extreme temperatures were global marine heatwaves and the El Niño weather pattern. Sarah Kapnick, NOAA’s chief scientist, warned that as long as emissions continue to drive warming, new records are likely in the coming years.
The extreme temperatures have had global repercussions, including intense monsoon rains in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
The financial toll has been substantial; since the beginning of 2023, the U.S. alone has experienced 23 weather and climate disasters, each exceeding $1 billion in damages, surpassing the previous record of $22 billion set in 2020.