March 2024 hottest on record, says EU climate service

The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) says March 2024 was the hottest March on record.

In a report published on Tuesday, the organisation said March was also the 10th consecutive month of record breaking temperatures globally.

Since June 2023, the world’s temperature has continually been on the rise, with February 2024 described as the hottest February in history.

According to the report, surface air temperature was 0.10°C higher than the previous high set in March 2016.

C3S said sea ice extent reached its annual maximum in March, continuing a negative trend since 2017.

“March 2024 was warmer globally than any previous March in the data record with an average ERA5 surface air temperature of 14.14°C,” the report said.

“In March 2024, it was wetter than average in most of western Europe, with storms causing heavy rainfall over the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. 

“Arctic sea ice extent reached its annual maximum in March, with a monthly value slightly below average, marking the highest March extent since 2013. 

“Antarctic sea ice extent was 20% below average, the sixth lowest extent for March in the satellite data record, continuing a series of large negative anomalies observed since 2017.”