Many regions worldwide like the Middle East, off the coast of Northern Siberia, Australia, parts of South America recorded substantially above-average temperatures. On the other hand, the eastern equatorial Pacific saw cooler than average temperatures due to the ongoing La Niña.

Even north and central India recorded above-normal temperatures. Delhi, for instance, recorded appreciable above-normal temperatures on eight days of September. The mean maximum temperature for the national capital was 36.2ºC against the month’s climatological mean of 32.8ºC, which is a whopping 3.4ºC above normal, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) records.

Hottest September ever

The data analysed showed that this September was 0.63ºC above the average September temperature, as per standard thirty-year climatological reference period (1981-2010). It was also 0.08°C warmer than September 2016, which was previously recorded as the second warmest September after 2019.

Europe witnessed record-high September temperatures, which was 0.2°C warmer than the previous highest of September 2018. The entire continent of Europe, especially southeastern Europe also experienced similar warm temperatures. In the USA, the September temperature was 1.1 degree above the average making it the third warmest September in 126 years.

C3S further revealed that both the years of warmest temperatures recorded—2016 and 2020— showed similar deviations between 1 January and 30 September. The climate patterns like La Niña will decide whether the 2020 year will break the tie and become the warmest year ever on record.

The C3S keeps track of European as well as worldwide climate and also C3S publishes monthly global climate bulletins. It was formed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.

Arctic sea ice the second-lowest

In the Siberian Arctic, the warm temperatures are having a significant influence on various parts of the region ever since early spring this year. The September temperatures also continued to be above the average. Both Siberia and Arctic regions generally witness significant variations in the temperature year on year, mainly due to global warming. However, the temperatures observed this year have been exceptional in its persistence as well as magnitude.

C3S, which also monitors sea ice monthly, said that the second-lowest Arctic sea ice extent since the beginning of the satellite recording, was recorded this September. The first lowest was recorded in September 2012.

Since the satellite observations began in 1979, the sea ice extent has seen a decline. This trend is especially noticeable in September, as the ice cover reaches yearly minimum extent. It follows a cycle of growth from September (late summer) to March, and decline from March to September.

Unprecedented number of disasters in USA

Hurricanes, tropical storms, destructive fires and record heat are among the many disasters the month of the US witnessed in September. Sections of the country experienced extreme mercury levels, while once in a lifetime wildfire took over the west and unprecedented tropical activity went on in the Atlantic; crowning September to be the month of extremes.

According to the US NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, weather-related disasters caused damage worth around 16 billion-dollar in the first three quarters of the year. Six major incidents have occurred since just June itself: Hurricane Sally, Laura and Isaias, the Midwest derecho storm (a widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm), wildfires of the west, and a Western/ Central US drought and heatwave. Wildfires have raged around 4 million acres in California since mid-August, while the Atlantic hurricane continued at a record pace.

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