The World Meteorological Group (WMO) attributed the temperatures to a “double whammy” of El Niño and long-term local weather change, resulting in droughts and wildfires, mixed with excessive rainfall and hurricanes.
“Sadly, 2023 was a yr of document climatic hazards in Latin America and the Caribbean,” mentioned the company’s head, Celeste Saulo.
“El Niño situations throughout the second half of 2023 contributed to a document heat yr and exacerbated many excessive occasions. This mixed with rising temperatures and extra frequent and excessive hazards attributable to human-induced local weather change.”
Distinctive and excessive
In response to WMO, the 2023 imply temperature was the best on document, 0.82°C above the 1991–2020 common and 1.39°C above the 1961–1990 baseline.
The yr was “distinctive” for Mexico, the place temperatures exceeded 45°C or 113°F at many climate stations, with a excessive of 51.4°C (124.5°F) on 29 August. It additionally skilled the quickest charge of warming within the area.
Excessive heatwaves affected central South America from August to December, with the mercury hovering in elements of Brazil to above 41°C in August. Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina all recorded their highest September temperatures. In Uruguay, the 2023 summer season was the driest among the many final 42 years on document.
Human, wildlife and financial losses
The intense climate additionally claimed many lives, together with large wildlife, ecosystem and financial losses.
The Class 5 Hurricane Otis in Mexico, as an illustration, resulted in dozens of fatalities broken costing billions of {dollars}, whereas extreme droughts disrupted river flow into the Panama Canal, paralyzing international shipping.
There have been additionally elevated well being dangers attributable to publicity to heatwaves, wildfire smoke, sand mud and air air pollution, resulting in cardiovascular and respiratory issues.
On the similar time, document temperatures within the Tefé Lake within the Brazilian Amazon killed over 150 dolphins.
Rising sea ranges
WMO additionally warned of an acceleration in sea degree rise.
The imply sea degree elevated at a better charge than the worldwide imply within the South Atlantic and the subtropical and tropical North Atlantic Oceans, threatening a big portion of the area’s inhabitants residing in coastal areas.
Glaciers too confronted the local weather brunt. The Echaurren Norte glacier within the central Andes mountains – a reference glacier – misplaced about 31 meters water equal from 1975 to 2023.
Supply: WMO
Droughts in Latin America and the Caribbean area between January and November 2023.
‘No respite in sight’ – Brazil flooding
In associated developments, document rainfall over the previous few weeks linked to El Niño brought on unprecedented flooding within the southern Brazil, affecting over 850,000 individuals, and leading to large infrastructure and financial losses.
In response to authorities within the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 78 individuals have to date been confirmed lifeless, an extra 175 injured and 105 extra lacking. Nearly 19,000 individuals have misplaced their properties and about 116,000 displaced.
UN prepared to help: UN chief
In a press release late on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres mentioned he was deeply saddened by the lack of lives and harm attributable to heavy rains and flooding in Brazil, extending his condolences and solidarity to all affected.
“The United Nations workforce on the bottom stands prepared to help the individuals of Brazil at this tough time”, the assertion continued.
“The Secretary-Basic notes that disasters comparable to this are a reminder of the devastating results of the local weather disaster on lives and livelihoods. He reiterates his name for swift worldwide motion to curb the chaotic results of local weather change.
“There is no such thing as a rapid respite in sight,” WMO mentioned in an update issued on Tuesday.
A lot of Rio Grande do Sul has been hit by persistent, heavy rainfall since 27 April, based on nationwide meteorological businesses and in some areas, downpours have exceeded 300 millimetres (mm) in lower than per week.
Within the Southern Brazilian municipality of Bento Gonçalves, for instance, the quantity reached 543.4 mm.
Name to motion
Towards the worrying background, WMO referred to as for elevated funding and help for local weather companies, significantly within the well being and catastrophe preparedness sectors, to deal with the escalating climate-related challenges confronted by Latin America and the Caribbean.
It highlighted the necessity for higher assets for nationwide meteorological and hydrological companies to strengthen forecasts and early warnings, and integration of local weather knowledge in well being surveillance to develop stronger public well being response to rising illnesses.
The UN company additionally urged adapting the well being sector and improved resolution making to strengthen resilience in opposition to local weather change.
