June 2024 was the hottest on record worldwide and the 3rd hottest in California

Topline:

Globally, June 2024 was the hottest June in the past 175 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Here in California, it was the third hottest June, helping set the stage for the large fires we're seeing now.

What that looks like: NOAA officials found that significant portions of the Earth reported much warmer than average to record warmest temperatures in June.

Why it matters: Hotter temperatures jeopardize our snowpack and put greater stress on trees and plants, meaning they need more water than they normally would to thrive. There's also a whole slew of implications for animals, from salmon, which die off when the water's too warm, to birds of prey out in the desert that are unable to keep up with hydration requirements. Sea levels are rising and food chains are being compromised. Then there's the global health crisis that's worsened as people fail to adapt to the heat.

The backstory: This is the 13th month in a row that we've seen record breaking high temperatures across the globe. These heat waves are only expected to worsen as climate change progresses.