UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Record August Temperatures - WMO
/
1:40
/
MP4
/
124.9 MB

Edited News | WMO

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Record August Temperatures - WMO

Hottest summer on record in north fuels concerns over wildfire destruction on US west coast

The northern hemisphere has just had its hottest summer and warmest August on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday, amid searing conditions that have contributed to devastating wildfires on the US west coast.

“The northern hemisphere just had its hottest summer on record,” said Clare Nullis, WMO spokesperson.

“It also had its hottest August on record; this is according to figures which released last night by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).”

Data indicates that from June to August, temperatures were 2.11 degrees Fahrenheit (1.17 degrees Celsius) above average.

This surpasses previous warmest periods in 2016 and 2019, Ms. Nullis said, adding that the five warmest summers for the northern hemisphere have occurred since 2015.

At a global level, August was the second warmest on record, the WMO spokesperson added, citing NOAA data, at 1.69F (0.94C) above the 20th-century average of 60.1F (15.6C): “August 2020 was the 44th consecutive August and the 428th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average. The 10 warmest Augusts on record have all occurred since 1998.”

The 2020 fire season on the West Coast of the USA has also been record-breaking in its scale, with some 16,0000 firefighters involved in the effort to protect people and towns in California alone.

“The heat has contributed to a very, very destructive fire season,” Ms. Nullis said. “As we know, the states of California, Oregon and Washington have been worst-hit, entire neighbourhoods razed to the ground, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and thousands of people and tragically causing casualties.”

In addition to fatalities and destruction, the fires have impacted air quality for millions of people and turned skies orange, the UN agency warned. Satellite images show clouds of smoke billowing over the western Pacific and likely travelling more than 1,300 miles (2,092 kilometres).

Citing “red flag” conditions in northeastern California for much of this week, Ms. Nullis explained that this was the most dangerous threat level and that it is characterised by a combination of strong winds and tinder-dry conditions.

Of 41,599 fires recorded in the US so far this year, 36,383 were caused by human activity, the WMO spokesperson continued, with more than 2.5 million acres scorched across the United States.

California saw most individual blazes, with 7,072 human-caused fires reported, according to the US National Interagency Fire Center.

Ms. Nullis also warned that the US National Hurricane Center issued advisories for “no less than five” tropical cyclones over the Atlantic basin – tying with the record for the highest number of tropical cyclones there at one time.

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is so active that it is expected to exhaust the regular list of storm names, the WMO spokesperson said. “If this happens, the Greek alphabet will be used for only the second time on record,” she added.

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a beautiful day.
  2. Wide shot, podium with WMO spokesperson in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, WMO (World Meteorological Organization): “The Northern hemisphere just had its hottest summer on record. It also had its hottest August on record; this is according to figures which released last night by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
  4. Close-up, photographer taking picture between two chairs, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, WMO (World Meteorological Organization): “The heat has contributed to a very, very destructive fire season. As we know, the states of California, Oregon and Washington have been worst-hit, entire neighbourhoods razed to the ground, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and thousands of people and tragically causing casualties.”
  6. Close-up, fingers typing on laptop, Press Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, WMO (World Meteorological Organization): “August 2020 was the 44th consecutive August and the 428th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average. The 10 warmest Augusts on record have all occurred since 1998.”
  8. Medium shot, showing journalist with headphone typing on laptop in foreground and two journalists listening to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, WMO (World Meteorological Organization): “On Monday, the US National Hurricane Center was issuing advisories for five, no less than five, tropical cyclones over the Atlantic basin. This ties the record for the most number of tropical cyclones in that basin at one time."
  10. Medium shot, journalists and UN Geneva staff sitting in Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  11. Medium shot, podium with WMO spokesperson talking, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  12. Medium shot, journalist, masked, using listening device and holding laptop, another journalist to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.

Similar Stories

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva

1

1

1

Edited News | UNCTAD

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva ENG FRA

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched today the World Investment Report 2025. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 11%, marking the second consecutive year of decline and confirming a deepening slowdown in productive capital flows, according to the report.

Human Rights Council - Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | HRC

Human Rights Council - Iran ENG FRA

As the Iran-Israel crisis continued into a sixth day, the UN deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif called for urgent talks to end the continuing exchanges of missile attacks between Tehran and Tel-Aviv.

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025

2

1

1

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025 ENG FRA

Heavy fighting in Sudan continues to escalate as a “direct result” of the continued flow of arms into the country meaning that the war is far from over, top independent human rights investigators said on Tuesday.

Gaza mass casualty incidents  WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza mass casualty incidents WHO ENG FRA

More Gazans killed trying to get food, healthcare near to ‘full disaster’

Gaza’s health system is at breaking point, overwhelmed time and again by scores of patients killed or injured near aid distribution sites, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

La situation en République démocratique du Congo est aujourd’hui encore plus grave et alarmante, a averti lundi le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Volker Türk. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighting key issues and trends, and the human rights situation in some 60 countries. 

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025 ENG FRA

As diplomatic efforts continue to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN development agency (UNDP) issued an appeal on Friday on behalf of people uprooted by the violence to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Sudan update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Sudan update - WFP ENG FRA

The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview ENG FRA

What can each one of us do to save the planet, asks Yann Arthus-Bertrand on World Environment Day

The last documentary film of legendary nature photographer, documentary director and environmental activist “Nature: The Call for Reconciliation” looks for an answer.

 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza ENG FRA

“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians

Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA ENG FRA

As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.