The World hit hottest day with an average temperature of 17C

Monday was the world’s hottest day on record, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

The average global temperature hit 17.01C on July 3, surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C.

Heatwaves have been ravaging countries around the globe for weeks now.

The southern US has been suffering under an intense heat dome for weeks.

China is enduring a continuing heatwave with temperatures above 35 degrees.

Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images

North Africa has experienced temperatures near 50 degrees.

Even Antarctica, which is currently in winter, is experiencing abnormally high temperatures.

"This is not a milestone we should be celebrating," said climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Britain's Imperial College London.

"It's a death sentence for people and ecosystems."

Earlier this year, the United Nations warned higher global temperatures and new heat records would be on the way due to climate change and the return of El Nino.

Late on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) officially declared an El Nino had arrived.

The WMO said El Nino would contribute to a further spike in global temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events.

“The onset of El Nino will greatly increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and triggering more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean,” WMO secretary-general Professor Petteri Taalas said.

“The declaration of an El Niño by WMO is the signal to governments around the world to mobilise preparations to limit the impacts on our health, our ecosystems and our economies.

“Early warnings and anticipatory action of extreme weather events associated with this major climate phenomenon are vital to save lives and livelihoods.”

The WMO said the El Nino event throughout the second half of 2023 would be 'at least moderate strength'.

Despite the WMO's announcement, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology is yet to declare a El Nino officially.