Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Thursday, as extreme heat swept across parts of Europe and India.
A new report released by the WMO and Britain's Met Office said there is an 86 percent chance that at least one year between 2026 and 2030 will surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record.
Spain's national weather agency issued heat or severe storm alerts for 10 regions on Tuesday, with temperatures in some areas forecast to approach or exceed 40 degrees. Meteorologists said a "heat dome" effect had brought weather conditions more typical of midsummer than late May.
Italy issued red heat alerts for cities including Rome, Florence, Turin and Bologna, while unusually high temperatures were also reported in France, Ireland and Portugal.
In India, temperatures in parts of Uttar Pradesh climbed to 47 degrees last week. Local media reported heat-related casualties in southern India, with water and electricity shortages also affecting several regions including the capital New Delhi.
The WMO said 2024 remains the warmest year ever recorded, with the global mean temperature estimated to be 1.55 degrees above the pre-industrial baseline.
Scientists stressed that the 1.5 degrees threshold under the Paris Agreement refers to long-term warming measured over decades rather than individual years. Temporary exceedances are expected to occur more frequently as global temperatures continue to rise.
The report also said the predicted average temperature in the central tropical Pacific indicates a tendency towards El Nino conditions over the next five years, particularly in 2027 and 2028.