Last year broke 400 weather records, among them the highest measured weather temperature ever on earth. In July, in American Nevada, in an area popularly called “Death Valley,” the temperature peaked at 54.4 C.

Ten countries around the world have measured their highest temperatures ever. It is partly about the United States, but also about the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Italy, and a handful of countries in and around the Arabian Peninsula, climate researcher Maximiliano Herrera tells The Guardian.

Devastating heat waves

Herrera, who has been following extreme weather through weather stations worldwide for over 30 years, can state that 107 countries have also had record temperatures during certain months. But he does not think that 2021 will be the warmest year ever – the answer will only come in a couple of days when, among other things, NASA releases new data.

However, meteorologist Scott Duncan believes that last year was significantly different. He lifts the heat waves that washed over Europe this summer, which led to extensive forest fires in the Mediterranean. But also that a cold snap preceded the heat in April.

“It was devastating for agriculture, especially in France,” he told The Guardian. Furthermore, he highlights the summer floods in Europe as part of the extreme weather.