Monday was the hottest day ever recorded globally in the history of the world.
The average global temperature reached a record 17.01C on July 3, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The new record beats the previous August 2016 record of 16.92C.
It comes as many parts of the world are experiencing extreme heatwaves, including the US, China and North Africa.
READ MORE: Experts sound alarm for global heatwaves sparked by El Niño weather phenomenon
Southern states in the US have been suffering under unusually high temperatures brought on by an intense heat dome in recent weeks. The heatwave saw several parts of Texas experience temperatures over 43C (110F) and the dome is expected to spread eastwards this week.
In Beijing and parts of northern China, a brutal heatwave continues, which saw temperatures rise to more than 40C. Meanwhile parts of north Africa have seen temperatures near 50C.
And even Antarctica, currently in its winter, registered anomalously high temperatures.
This comes as the El Niño weather phenomenon, which triggers higher global temperatures, has developed in the Pacific for the first time in seven years, the World Meteoroligcal Organization warned on Tuesday.
El Niño is a naturally occurring weather pattern that comes into play between every two and seven years on average. It is associated with warming sea surface temperatures as well as increased rainfall and warmer summers.
However, Maynooth University professor and climate expert John Sweeney said global warming could be making the weather pattern more frequent, which could drive the world over 1.5 degrees of global warming.
He told the Irish Mirror: “The expectation is that not this year, but next year, the consequence of the El Niño will be the world will probably break through the 1.5 degree warming threshold."
