“Extreme events submitted to WMO for adjudication are ‘snapshots’ of our current climate. It is possible, even likely, that even more extreme events will occur across Europe in the future . When such observations are made, new climate assessment committees will be formed. WMO considers them extreme,” said Randall Cerveny, rapporteur for climate and extreme weather events at WMO.
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Cerveny noted that “most studies such as this one are lengthy procedures because of the meticulous care WMO takes in certifying meteorological observations”.
Many WMO assessments are published in peer-reviewed journals. They are included on the website of the Archive of Meteorological and Climate Extremes, which includes records of the world’s highest and lowest temperatures, precipitation, largest hail, longest dry period, maximum wind gust, longest lightning duration and climate-related mortality.
Finally, a WMO committee of experts is currently assessing other extremes, including whether Tropical Cyclone Freddy broke last year’s record for duration.
