Record-Breaking Heat Expected for Next Five Years, Warns WMO

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UK Met Office predict an 80% chance of breaking annual temperature records for the next five years. This increased global mean temperature translates to a higher likelihood of extreme weather events: stronger hurricanes, heavier rainfall, and more severe droughts, leading to increased loss of life. There's an 86% chance that one of the next five years will exceed the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, and a 70% chance the five-year average will surpass it. The projections also indicate a possibility, however slight, of reaching the more alarming 2°C threshold before the end of the decade. This warming trend accelerates Arctic ice melt and sea-level rise.