☔ Grand Cayman records wettest June in over half a century
🌡️ Global temperatures continue to rise, with every month in the last 13-month period being the hottest on record
Scientists have confirmed that every month over the last 13-month period has been the hottest on record globally. The average global temperature was also 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era for 12 successive months, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). On Grand Cayman, the maximum temperature in June was slightly above the 10-year average maximum temperature, but the island experienced four times the average rainfall for the month, making it the wettest June since 1966. A total of 21 inches of rain were recorded at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman last month, with 10 June being the wettest day of the year. 🌧️
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service (CINWS) predicts a 50-60% chance that Grand Cayman will experience more rain than the climatological average in the third quarter (July through September) and a 70% chance of hotter than average temperatures, with a 40% chance of a heatwave. Meanwhile, Cayman Brac had a total rainfall of 8.26 inches in June, with 8 June being the wettest day of the year so far. The maximum temperature of 93.2°F (34°C) was considerably hotter than the 10-year average maximum temperature of 90.8 (32.7°C) for the month. The sea surface temperatures around the Cayman Islands remain some of the hottest on record, which helped fuel Hurricane Beryl on its record-breaking journey. 🌡️
As the well-documented climate change and predicted global warming caused by human impact on the environment become a reality, June 2024 was the 12th consecutive month with temperatures at least 1.5°C above the average for 1850-1900. Scientists believe the world must not exceed the threshold of 1.5°C above the designated pre-industrial reference period 1850-1900 to prevent irreversible climate change that will cause catastrophic damage to human communities, wildlife and natural habitats on land and sea. The World Meteorological Organization warns that the world will be exceeding the 1.5°C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency. 🌎
