From the climate experts (aka "the scientists") over at NOAA:
The May 2021 global surface temperature was 0.81°C (1.46°F) above the 20th century average of 14.8°C (58.6°F). This value tied with 2018 as the sixth warmest May in the 142-year record. May 2021 was also the 45th consecutive May and the 437th consecutive month with temperatures, at least nominally, above the 20th century average.
And:
The three-month period of March–May 2021 was the eighth highest in the 142-year record for the globe at 0.82°C (1.48°F) above average. The March–May period is defined as the Northern Hemisphere's meteorological spring and the Southern Hemisphere's meteorological autumn. For the Northern Hemisphere, as a whole, the March–May period was the sixth warmest such period on record with a temperature departure of +1.06°C (+1.91°F). Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere had the 11th warmest autumn on record. Although the Southern Hemisphere had an above-average autumn temperature, it was the coolest autumn since 2013.
And:
The January–May 2021 global surface temperature was also the eighth warmest such period on record, with a temperature departure of 0.77°C (1.39°F) above average. Although the year-to-date global surface temperature was above average, this was the smallest temperature departure for January–May since 2014. Looking ahead, the year 2021 is very likely to rank among the ten warmest years on record, with less than 2% chance to rank among the five warmest years on record, according to a statistical analysis done by NCEI scientists.
Yes, the vaccines are working. Yes, the COVID numbers (at least in the US of A) are coming down. Yes, there's something resembling "normal" out there.
But it's still warming up.
