Last month was officially the hottest October EVER – and forecasters say 2023 is ‘virtually certain’ to be the warmest year on record

Last month was Earth’s hottest October ever, data has revealed.

Copernicus, the EU climate change body, said surface air temperatures hit an average of 59.5°F (15.3°C) – 1.53°F (0.85°C) above the 1991-2020 average for October.

This marks the fourth straight month in a row to set such a record, following the hottest ever June, July, August, and September.

Experts say that 2023 is now ‘virtually certain’ to be the warmest year on record.

‘We can say with near certainty that 2023 will be the warmest year on record, and is currently 1.43°C [2.5°F] above the preindustrial average,’ said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

This marks the fourth straight month in a row to set such a record, following the hottest ever June, July, August, and September. Pictured: Brighton Beach on October 7

Copernicus uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations around the world to monitor global weather.

Their recordings show that October 2023 was 0.72°F (0.4°C) hotter than the previous warmest October, in 2019.

‘October 2023 has seen exceptional temperature anomalies, following on from four months of global temperature records being obliterated,’ Ms Burgess said.

For the calendar year to date (January to October), the global average temperature has been the highest on record, measuring 2.5°F (1.43°C) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.

This is also 0.18°F (0.1°C) higher than the 10-month average for 2016, which currently holds the record as the hottest year.

It wasn’t just temperatures on the ground that were scorching last month. The average sea surface temperature for October over 60°S–60°N was 69.4°F (20.79°C) – the highest on record for October

October 2023 was 0.72°F (0.4°C) hotter than the previous warmed October, in 2019. Pictured: a firefighter walking toward flames as the Highland Fire burns in Aguana, California

It wasn’t just temperatures on the ground that were scorching last month.

The average sea surface temperature for October over 60°S–60°N was 69.4°F (20.79°C) – the highest on record for October.

October also marked the sixth consecutive month in which Antarctic sea ice extent remained at a record low, with a monthly value 11 per cent below average.

Arctic Sea ice extent reached its seventh lowest value for October, coming in at 12 per cent below average.

For the calendar year to date (January to October), the global average temperature has been the highest on record, measuring 2.5°F (1.43°C) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average

What’s more, precipitation was above average across most of Europe last month, with Storm Babet hitting northern Europe, and storm Aline bringing heavy rain and flooding to Portugal and Spain.

Beyond Europe, it was wetter than average in several regions including the southwest of North America, parts of the Arabian Peninsula, regions of Central Asia and Siberia, southeast China, Brazil, New Zealand and regions of southern Africa.

In contrast, it was drier than average in the southern US and parts of Mexico, as well as in most of Australia.

‘The sense of urgency for ambitious climate action going into COP28 has never been higher,’ Ms Burgess added.