August Sets Global Temperature Record

Why it matters locally: Record-breaking global and national temperatures directly impact Illinois's agricultural sector through altered growing seasons and increased drought potential, and could strain public health resources during extreme heat events.

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August recorded the highest global average temperatures ever measured, according to scientific assessments. This development follows a summer during which temperatures in the United States also surpassed historical records. Researchers documented August's global average temperature as the highest on record. Simultaneously, summer temperatures across the United States exceeded all prior measurements.