Honduras, US, Indonesia Break Heat Records

Record heat pushed Honduras to a new May high of 42.2 °C, Furnace Creek to 46.7 °C—the year’s top U.S. reading—and Bali airport above 27.9 °C for three straight nights.

TL;DR

Record temperatures hit Honduras, the United States and Indonesia this week, with Honduras setting a new May high, Furnace Creek posting the year’s highest U.S. reading, and Bali airport logging three straight nights above 27.9 °C. The extremes illustrate a widening pattern of heat across the tropics and mid‑latitudes.

Context

A broad heatwave swept parts of Central America, western North America and the Indonesian archipelago in mid‑May. Meteorologists attribute the surge to a stalled high‑pressure ridge that trapped warm air over each region. The pattern follows a string of unusually warm months recorded globally in 2024.

Key Facts

Honduras’ Institute of Meteorology (INAMEH) logged a temperature of 42.2 °C (107.9 °F) in Choluteca on 13 May, topping the previous May record of 42.1 °C by 0.1 °C. The reading came from an official weather station that measures air temperature hourly with calibrated sensors.

In California’s Death Valley, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) recorded 46.7 °C at Furnace Creek on the same day, marking the highest temperature observed in the United States so far in 2024. The station uses automated thermometers calibrated to within 0.1 °C and reports observations every ten minutes.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) reported that Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali never fell below 27.9 °C overnight for three consecutive nights, establishing a new record for sustained nocturnal warmth. The agency’s network of ground‑based sensors logs temperature every hour and applies quality‑control checks before publication.

What It Means

These readings show that daytime peaks and nighttime lows are both shifting upward, increasing heat stress on populations and infrastructure. Health officials warn of heightened risk of heat‑related illness, while energy grids face greater demand for cooling. Scientists note that if the high‑pressure pattern persists, additional records could fall in the coming weeks across the affected zones. Watch for updated forecasts from INAMEH, NWS and BMKG, and for any official heat advisories or record announcements through late May.

Honduras, US and Indonesia Break Heat Records as Temperatures Surge

Context

Key Facts

What It Means

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