2024 could be hottest on record. Here’s what it means for California
2023 was the planet’s warmest year on record, coming in 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. But California bucked the trend. The state overall was just 0.8 degrees above the 1991-2020 average; some places had near- to below-average temperatures. There’s a 55% chance that 2024 will be even warmer than 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And for now, California is expected to be in line with this projection. Seasonal outlooks show that the United States will be warmer than average this summer, though pinpointing exactly how hot is a challenge. Rising temperatures in California in late summer and into fall could prime conditions for potential wildfires.
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