Severe heatwave in US states breaks June temperature records

The ongoing severe heatwave continues to grip the south-western states of the US, with temperatures exceeding 40C in a number of cities. Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California, recorded a maximum temperature of 53.2C (127.7F) on17 June, which is a new world record for the month and only 1.2C off the all-time global temperature record, 54.4C. The following night also broke June records for the warmest night in North America, with a low of 40.6C at Stovepipe Wells. Mexicali, in Mexico, also recorded a high of 50C on 17 June, adding to the growing list of countries that have hit 50C this year.

Meanwhile in the southern hemisphere, unseasonably cold temperatures and snowfall were seen in Córdoba, Argentina, on 13 June. Snowfall here is a rare sight, with the last snowfall event in July 2007, and only a few days prior saw temperatures peaking at 27C.

Tropical storm Claudette has become the third named system of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, after Ana and Bill. It is the fifth earliest tropical storm system on record for season. Unlike Bill and Ana, it became the first tropical system to make landfall in the US, after sweeping through Louisiana on the 19 June.