Published on May 2, 2024 at 12:08 p.m.
421 days, 421 records. Every day since March 4, 2023, the water temperature in the North Atlantic has broken a heat record. Explanations.
Too hot in 2023
A historic streak has just ended. On April 30, 2024, the surface water temperature in the North Atlantic was not the warmest on record. But that’s only because the temperature measured in 2023 was exceptionally warm. The 2024 mark remains well above the average measured between 1982 and 2011.
Far from a trend
Let’s still look at the bright side of things: the surface water of the North Atlantic cooled slightly during the last days of April 2024. The temperature followed an ascending curve since the beginning of the month, then dropped by almost a tenth of a degree as May approached. It is obviously too early to speak of a trend. If we look at the average of the planet’s oceans, the streak of daily heat records has now lasted for more than a year.
Warmer than in a spa
Since mid-March 2023, every day, the average ocean temperature has reached a new record. And sometimes, like at the end of summer 2023, we exceeded the old mark by almost half a degree. It is the tropical areas of the oceans that are changing the situation more. Remember that last summer, temperatures of more than 38° were measured off the coast of Florida. This is a little hotter than most hot tub manufacturers recommend.
A worrying season
Warm waters in tropical regions usually favor the formation of hurricanes and typhoons. Colorado State University experts predict nearly twice as many named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes in the Atlantic for 2024. According to them, there could be 23 named storms while the annual average is 14.4. They fear the formation of 5 major hurricanes, compared to an average of 3.2.
With the collaboration of Maxine Cloutier-Gervais, meteorologist.
