Get ready for several years of killer heat, top weather forecasters warn

A new forecast from the World Meteorological Organization and the UK Met Office warns that Earth is on track to face several consecutive years of record-breaking heat. With an 86% chance that one of the next five years will exceed the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Climate Accord—and a 70% chance the five-year average will surpass it—the outlook is dire. For the first time, scientists are also considering the possibility that global annual temperatures could reach 2°C above pre-industrial levels before the decade ends. This level of warming would amplify extreme events like heatwaves, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Experts stress that these aren’t abstract numbers: they translate directly to human suffering and increased mortality. As climate systems continue to warm, Arctic ice melt, sea level rise, and devastating weather patterns will worsen. The data come from over 200 simulations across 10 global centers, showing that the planet is not only heating, but resetting its “normal” with each passing year.

Advertisements

Source: AP News