The Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI) reports that 2024 matches the record warmth of 2023, making both years the hottest since records began in 1901. Despite a cool summer, the average temperature increased due to warmer months earlier in the year. The KNMI’s climate stripes, a visual representation of temperature changes since 1901, now features 2024 in dark red, signifying ongoing climate change. Climate scientist Karin van der Wiel notes the challenge of depicting increasing temperatures as the color spectrum nears its limits.