The World’s Oceans Shattered Heat Records in April and May

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PACIFIC GROVE, CA - FEBRUARY 07: A man watches large waves crashing against rocks on February 7, 2006 in Pacific Grove, California. The U.S. saw its warmest January on record with a national average of 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit, beating the old record for January temperatures of 37.3 degrees set in 1953. Due to the unseasonably warm weather, Americans have been able to save on heating bills just as oil prices have hit record highs. Temperatures in the Monterey Bay are expected to in the 70's with clear skies for the next five days. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The world’s oceans were the warmest on record in April and May, a development that could mean more severe weather over the next few months and trigger a rise in sea levels.

Ocean temperatures from March to May — meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere — were also the highest in the 174-year record, according to the US National Centers for Environmental Information. When land and sea temperatures were combined, the world had its third-hottest May ever.

Warm water fuels tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the US and typhoons in Asia, Rocky Bilotta, a climatologist at NCEI, said in a conference call with reporters. The heat will also lead to more moisture in the atmosphere, which could produce more severe storms of all kinds in the coming months. 

©2023 Bloomberg L.P.

By Brian K. Sullivan

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