Climate crisis: 2023 to record third warmest May in 174 years

May 2023 ranks as the third warmest May on record, continuing the trend of rising global temperatures. The average global temperature in May was 1.75 degrees Fahrenheit (0.97 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average of 58.6 degrees Fahrenheit (14.8 Celsius degrees). This marks the 47th consecutive May and the 531st consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average.

According to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Both North and South America experienced their warmest Mays on record, while Africa, Asia, and Europe had one of their 20 warmest Mays. In contrast, Antarctica had a colder-than-average May.

Record-breaking global ocean surface temperatures

Global ocean surface temperatures set a new record for the second month in a row. Weak El Niño conditions emerged as sea surface temperatures strengthened in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, prompting NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center to announce the arrival of El Niño conditions.

The period from March to May, which spans the Northern Hemisphere spring and the Southern Hemisphere autumn, was exceptionally warm. The Northern Hemisphere spring ranked as the third-warmest on record, with a deviation of 2.32 degrees Fahrenheit (1.29 degrees Celsius) above average.

The southern hemisphere fall ranked as the second warmest on record, with temperatures 1.49 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) above average.

The year-to-date global surface temperature of January to May 2023 ranked as the fourth-warmest on record, with a deviation of 1.82 degrees Fahrenheit (1.01 degrees Celsius) above the 1901-2000 average.

According to the NCEI Global Annual Temperature Rankings Outlook, there is a greater than 99.0% probability that 2023 will rank among the 10 warmest years on record, with an 89% probability of ranking in the top five.

The report also highlights other significant weather events in May. Antarctic sea ice hit a record low for the month, with the second lowest extent on record globally.

Antarctic sea ice extent in May 2023 was 750,000 square miles below average, exceeding the previous record low set in May 2019. Arctic sea ice extent in May 2023 ranked as the 13th smallest in the satellite record.

May was an active month for tropical cyclones, with three named storms reaching major hurricane strength, two of which were Category 5 storms. Global Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), a measure of energy release of tropical cyclones, it was the highest recorded in May, surpassing the previous record set in 2015.

Hottest May ever recorded in New Zealand

Regionally, both North America and South America experienced record temperatures in May. Asia, Africa and Europe recorded one of their 20 warmest months. However, Oceania experienced its coldest May since 2011.

New Zealand reported its warmest May on record, while Pakistan witnessed heavy rain for the second time in May. Australia experienced an unusually dry May and Canada faced numerous bushfires that consumed more than 6 million acres of land, causing severe air pollution.

The United States had its 11th warmest May and the Arctic saw its fifth warmest May. Antarctica, however, had a colder-than-average May.

In particular, the increase in temperatures is not limited to land surfaces, but also affects the oceans. Global ocean surface temperatures reached record levels for the second month in a row. In addition, NOAA has forecast the arrival of El Niño due to rising temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

From January to May 2023, the average temperature was the fourth warmest on record, with a deviation of 1.01 degrees Celsius above normal. During the period from March to May, both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experienced above normal temperatures.

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere was 1.29 degrees Celsius above normal, while winter temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.83 degrees Celsius above normal.

Major weather stations in May

China:

Vietnam

Thailand

Laos

Myanmar

Chad

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