2024: Chicago and Global Heat Records Shatter, Economic Impact Skyrockets

January 14, 2025
2024: Chicago and Global Heat Records Shatter, Economic Impact Skyrockets
  • In 2024, Chicago and the globe experienced unprecedented heat, marking it as the hottest year on record with global temperatures soaring 2.77 degrees above the baseline average.

  • The annual average temperature in the United States was recorded at 3.5 degrees above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous record set in 2012.

  • Notably, all eight of the warmest years in U.S. history have occurred since 2012, underscoring a troubling trend of rising temperatures.

  • A total of 76 out of 243 U.S. cities monitored by Climate Central reported their hottest year on record in 2024, with notable mentions including Detroit, Houston, and Minneapolis.

  • Chicago specifically recorded temperatures that were record-setting in 2024, while also experiencing conditions that were 8% drier than historical averages.

  • The economic ramifications of climate change were stark, with weather-related disasters in the United States costing approximately $27 billion in 2024.

  • Looking ahead, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-average temperatures and drier conditions for the southern half of the continental U.S. in early 2025.

  • Conversely, the High Plains to the northwest Pacific are expected to see below-average temperatures coupled with above-normal precipitation, while Chicago may face equal chances of temperature variations but with above-average precipitation in the form of rain or snow.

Summary based on 1 source


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