Copernicus reports October was the hottest month ever recorded globally

The meteorological agency of Macao announced that the semi-autonomous Chinese region recorded its hottest October in history, as did its neighboring territory, Hong Kong.

The Directorate of Meteorological and Geophysical Services (SMG) of Macao reported that the city concluded October with an average monthly temperature of 26.6 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees above the climate norm. According to the SMG statement, the minimum average monthly temperature was 24.4 degrees Celsius, exceeding the climate norm by 1.7 degrees.

The agency emphasized that both these figures are new records for October, the highest since data collection began in 1952. SMG explained the high temperatures as a combination of global warming, a very strong El Niño event, and a relatively weak northeast monsoon that affected Macao in October.

The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It usually occurs every two to seven years and lasts about nine to twelve months.

On Tuesday, the Hong Kong meteorological agency reported that October ended with an average monthly maximum temperature of 30.5°C, which is 2.4 degrees above normal and the highest recorded since data collection began in 1884. In its statement, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) also noted that the average monthly temperature reached 27.6°C, which is 1.9 degrees above normal and a new maximum in at least 142 years.

The agency pointed to contributing factors, including climate warming and strong El Niño, warning that the effects of this phenomenon could persist until the beginning of 2027. Previously, on August 9, Hong Kong had already reached a record high temperature, registering 36.9°C at the Meteorological Observatory headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui, which serves as the city's reference point.

Nevertheless, higher temperatures were recorded in other areas. According to the Observatory, the maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees was recorded in the Shun Shui area to the north, which is the highest since the installation of automatic weather stations in the 1980s.

Scientists argue that human-induced global warming is leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather events.

In July, Macao recorded the lowest average monthly temperature in the last 75 years, as well as the highest amount of precipitation and the highest average relative humidity in observation history. SMG reported that the total rainfall in July reached 962 millimeters, which is 2.3 times the climate norm and the highest figure for July since data collection began in 1952.

On Monday (the 26th), one of the highest temperatures in the last 65 years was recorded in Maceió. According to data from the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet), thermometers reached the mark of 36.8°C. This figure is among the highest registered in the capital of the state of Alagoas since 1961, when the historical observation series began, and is the highest temperature recorded in 2026 so far.

Despite the high temperature, it is impossible to definitively confirm that this is a historical record, as the data from many years in the Inmet historical series contain errors.

Heat in Rural Areas

According to Professor Mateus Lyra from the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences of the Federal University of Alagoas (ICAT/Ufal), the intense heat was caused by the approach of a cold front that has been moving towards Bahia in recent days. The professor explained that the approach of this front contributed to the movement of warm air into the Maceió region, leading to an increase in temperature.

Furthermore, this phenomenon changed the direction and intensity of winds on the coast of Alagoas. Usually, the prevailing winds in the region blow from the southeast, but they began blowing from the northeast. The specialist noted: 'This frontal zone sucks in air near our region, allowing all these conditions to arise—both the movement of warm air increasing the temperature and the channeling of this air increasing the wind.'

The expert also recalled that a similar situation occurred on January 23, 2024, when Maceió recorded about 35.9°C.

Intense heat was also noted in other cities of Alagoas. According to Barbara Alves Batista, manager of Hydrometeorology of the State Secretariat for Environment and Water Resources (Semarh/AL), the temperature reached 42°C in Santana do Ipanema on Monday, and 43°C in Pau de Açúcar.