According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest temperature ever recorded across the world is 56.7 degrees Celsius or 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913, at Death Valley, California. Recorded more than a hundred years ago, this temperature is closer than ever to some temperatures recorded in 2016 in some places in the world.
Updated (July 26,2016): Kuwait saw its highest temperature on Thursday, July 21 with 54 degrees Celsius breaking the record for the highest temperature recorded in the eastern hemisphere
Reasons
El Nino is a climate cycle that has global ramifications on weather and this is a major factor in this year’s high temperatures, droughts and torrential rains in various areas. Warm water in the western tropical Pacific Ocean moves eastward creating changes in trade wind directions and speeds. Tropical storms also move eastward.
This phenomenon is largely unpredictable until temperature and wind shifts are seen. Other than El Nino, global warming is also considered a major factor in the drastic climate readings across the world during 2015-2016.
Earth breaks 12th straight monthly heat record
Here are some countries with their highest ever temperature readings in 2016.
1. Phalodi, India
India recorded its highest ever temperature of 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Rajasthan on May 19, beating an earlier record of 50.6 degrees Celsius from 1956. The temperature at which India declares a heatwave is 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) but temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius becomes life-threatening. Over 80 cases of death by heatstroke have been reported, mostly in southern India.
2. Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne recorded its hottest March night ever recorded on March 8 with a temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Australia recorded its hottest day on March 2 with a national average temperature of 38.14 degrees Celsius (100.65 degrees Fahrenheit). This reading is 0.98 degrees Celsius more than the previous record set in March, 1966.
3. Klawok, Alaska
On March 31 Alaska recorded its highest temperature at Klawock Airport in Southeast Alaska with 21.6 degrees Celsius (71 degrees Fahrenheit) which is the highest recorded temperature ever in this region. Alaskan winters are warmer and dry with record-low snowfalls in the region. So much so that, for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, snow had to be brought in to Anchorage by train, while the ceremonial start of the race was brought down to three miles instead of the usual 11 miles.
4. London, United Kingdom
The temperature recorded on May 8 at St. James’ Park in London was 27.1 degrees Celsius (80 degree Fahrenheit) making it the warmest day of the year in the city so far. This may not seem too high to UAE residents but the average May temperature in London is 16 degrees Celsius (60.8 degrees Fahrenheit), making this year hotter by over 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
5. Maun, Botswana
National temperature records were broken in January at Maun, Botswana. On January 11, the temperature recorded at Maun was 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) breaking the 72-year-old national record of 43.3 degrees Celsius (109.94 degree Fahrenheit). The now broken national record temperature was measured in 1944 in the capital city of Gaborone.
