Monday was Earth’s hottest day, until Tuesday, when the record was again broken with a global average temperature of 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit (17.18 degrees Celsius). Among other effects, the abnormally high temperatures have helped to fuel wildfires in Canada, which have themselves led to record-setting levels of air pollution from the smoke. Unfortunately, scientists predict more is in store for both.

The hottest day record goes back until at least 1979, but some scientists believe Tuesday may have been one of the hottest days on Earth in about 125,000 years. They attribute Tuesday’s high temperature to a dangerous combination of climate change causing global temperatures to soar, the return of the El Niño pattern, and the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Although temperature increases due to these factors are frequently reported on, scientists have been surprised by how quickly hotter conditions are developing and even worry 2023 could be Earth’s warmest on record, which earlier this year seemed unlikely. Halfway through 2023, the year to date ranks as third-warmest on record. Meanwhile, the other phenomenon that has been breaking records, wildfires in Canada and the air pollution they have caused, is expected to continue. Later this week, there is some smoke risk as well as the potential for poor air quality to return to the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Into the middle part of July, there are likely to be more episodes of smoke entering the Midwest and Northeast. And these could flare up again over the next few months, as Canada’s fire season is expected to run until at least September. Read more at the Washington Post (articles one, two, and three) and AccuWeather.