An-Najah News - Forecast suggests 2021 is likely to be the seventh successive year where global temperatures are around 1C or more above pre-industrial levels

The year 2021 is likely to be one of the hottest on Earth despite the cooling influence of La Niña, according to a new forecast from the Met Office.

La Niña is a periodic natural weather phenomenon that can have a dampening effect on global temperatures.

Though 2021 is a La Niña year, the “overwhelming” influence of human-caused global heating means it is still likely to be one of the hottest on Earth, scientists have said.

The analysis concludes that global temperatures are likely to be between 0.91C and 1.15C above pre-industrial levels in 2021, with a central estimate of 1.03C.

This means next year is likely to be the seventh in a row where global temperatures are around 1C or more above pre-industrial levels.

Annual global temperatures compared with past Met Office forecasts

Annual global temperatures compared with past Met Office forecasts (Met Office)

Though 2020 has not yet drawn to a close, the latest data suggests that it is likely to be either the hottest or second-hottest year on record.

Given the forecast for 2021, it is likely that the seven years from 2015 to 2021 will be the seven hottest on record, according to the Met Office.

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The year 2016 is currently the hottest since reliable records began. However, it is possible that 2020 will edge ahead of 2016 to take the top spot by the end of December, according to the latest data.