GUANGZHOU: The city of Guangzhou in south China experienced its longest summer since 1961, with an average temperature of 23.3 degrees Celsius recorded on Wednesday. This marked the 235th summer day of the year, surpassing the previous record of 234 days set in 1994, as per the city’s meteorological records.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the significant extension of the summer season in Guangzhou this year is attributed to several climatic factors. Ai Hui, a senior engineer at the city’s climate and agricultural meteorological center, pointed out that a weaker Siberian High from October to November 11 resulted in diminished cold air influences on the city. Additionally, the Western Pacific subtropical high remained strong, leading to an average temperature of 24.9 degrees Celsius across the city, which is 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the average for the same period, ranking as the second-highest on record.
Meteorologists have noted a significant upward trend in temperatures in Guangzhou, with the po
ssibility of more frequent and intense extreme weather events as global warming continues. The city entered summer on March 23, and the extended season this year could indicate a broader climatic shift.
Furthermore, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record. This follows a period of exceptionally high global mean temperatures, with the January-September global mean surface air temperature recorded as 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, influenced by a warming El Nino event. This analysis was based on six international datasets used by the WMO, as discussed during the COP29 session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.