91av

Environment

Record-breaking sea temperatures set to bring supercharged storms

The global average sea surface temperature has hit a record high of 21.1°C, which could lead to fiercer hurricanes and typhoons

By Madeleine Cuff

6 April 2023

Severe storms brought torrents of rain and strong winds in California in March

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical storms may be more powerful than usual this year thanks to a record-breaking spike in global ocean temperatures.

The global average sea surface temperature hit a record high of 21.1°C on 1 April, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US and .

This beats the previous record of 21°C set in March 2016, and is more than 0.5°C warmer than is typical for…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with 91av events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop