January 2020 Was the Hottest January on Record
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that January 2020 was the hottest January on record. The accounting for these records dates back 141 years and follows the recent trend for above-average temperatures.
Additionally, January 2020 marked the 44th consecutive January and 421st consecutive month where temperatures have exceeded the 20th-century average. These findings from the NOAA are but another milestone in the wave of climate records set within the recent past.
The Trump Administration has already announced that it plans to see global temperatures increase by 7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. What’s more, there is a consensus among climate scientists and associations that human activities are a direct cause of the rapidly changing climate.
“Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver.” — Joint Statement from 18 Scientific Associations in 2009
“Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities.”
Climate Change by the Numbers: January 2020
- The global land and ocean temperature was 2.05 degrees F above the 20th-century average. This smashed the previous record from January 2016: 0.04 of a degree F above the 20th-century average.
- The four warmest January's on record have all occurred since 2016.
- The 10 warmest January's have all occurred since 2002.
- No land or ocean regions had record cold temperatures in January 2020.
Notable Climate Events in January Report
- Record warm temperatures were seen across: Scandinavia, Asia, The Indian Ocean, the central and western Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, Central America, and South America.
- Some of the aforementioned regions experienced temperatures that were at least 9 degrees F above average.
- Arctic sea ice coverage was 5.3% below the 1981–2010 average.
- Antarctic sea ice coverage was 9.8% below the 1981–2010 average.
- Northern Hemisphere snow coverage was below the 1981–2010 average.
What Happened to Winter?
With several weeks still left in the United States winter season, the unusually mild conditions could lead to one of America’s warmest on record. It’s not just the United States that is experiencing these warm winter conditions, however. Japan has seen many of its ski resorts forced to close prematurely. Russia had to bring in fake snow to Moscow for its New Year festivities.
Beyond winter, data from the National Centers for Environmental Information projects that 2020 will be one of the five warmest years on record.
