World records hottest ever day for third time in a week

The world has recorded its hottest ever day for a third time in just one week.

The mercury has been steeply rising across the globe with temperature soaring at an all-time high as the world's average temperature has already broken the previous 17.01°C record which was set on Monday (3 July) according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

Then, just a day later on Tuesday (4 July), the average temperature hit a staggering 17.18°C which has since been surpassed by the data collected from yesterday (6 July).

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Scientists have since revealed that Thursday's world average temperature climbed to a massive 17.23°C.

Now, that's some major heat.

Experts are pointing to the weather pattern, known as El Niño, as an explanation for the climate change.

The weather event usually leads to increased flooding in parts of the US, South America, the Horn of Africa and central Asia.

It can also result in severe heatwaves and droughts in the likes of Australia, Indonesia, South Asia and Central America.

The United Nation's weather body, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), has since confirmed El Niño's return.

Speaking in a press release, WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas announced: "The onset of El Niño will greatly increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and triggering more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean.

"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."

Taalas continued: "Early warnings and anticipatory action of extreme weather events associated with this major climate phenomenon are vital to save lives and livelihoods."

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According to the WMO, El Niño is a 'naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean'.

The body states: "But it takes place in the context of a climate changed by human activities."

Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, has stated that experts in her field aren't at all shocked by the news.

She said: "Climate scientists aren't surprised about the global daily temperature record being broken, but we are very concerned.

"[It] should be a wake-up call for anyone who thinks the world needs more oil and gas."

The data collected from this week dramatically surpasses the the last time the record was broken which was previously set at 16.92°C in August 2016.

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