38C logged in Siberia last year confirmed as record temperature for Arctic

The heatwave fuelled devastating fires, drove massive sea loss and played a major role in 2020 being one of the three hottest years on record, the UN weather and climate body said.

The Arctic is seeing extreme temperatures and is warming at a rate more than twice the global average. File Picture: Ben Birchall/PA

A temperature of 38C in Siberia during a heatwave in summer 2020 has been recognised as a record for the Arctic, experts said.

The temperature was recorded at a meteorological observation station in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk on June 20 2020, and has been recognised as a record by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).