Loved your first hand account, you are a good observer.
Here is my latest if you want a more 'big picture' look at what's happening with the Climate System and in the field of Climate Science.
2023 was a BAD year for the Earth’s Climate.
Basically, the IMO in 2016 mandated a 85% sulfur cut in marine diesel fuels (from 3.5% to 0.5%) starting in the year 2000.
Climate Moderates estimated for them that the reduction in atmospheric SOx would result in no more than +0.04°C of warming.
Hansen estimated as much as +0.6°C of warming.
(fyi- I estimated around +0.8°C)
He called it the "Great Experiment" that would establish with certainty what the ACTUAL cooling value for the SOx pollution should be.
It takes about 3 years for SOx particulate to "wash out" of the atmosphere.
So, right on schedule, in 2023 temps "peaked" as a result of a mild El Nino and a SURGE of rapid warming.
According to Berkeley Earth temperatures peaked at around +1.9°C and were then at about +1.7°C for the next 12 months until July.
The EU put warming as peaking at around +2.1°C.
FYI- The EU is warming about 2X as fast as the rest of the of the world. This is due to Arctic Amplification. It means that at +3°C of warming Europe could warm +6°C.
Unclothing the Emperor : Understanding “What’s Wrong” with our “Climate Paradigm”. Part 4 (Arctic Amplification)
If it doesn't DROP hard by the end of this year, it will look like Hansen was correct.
That would have profound implications.
There would be a PARADIGM SHIFT in Climate Science.
