I came across this on Twitter/X and asked myself, what does this really mean? Is it good news, or could it lead to disaster?

OCEANIA RECORD HEAT
Record heat has fallen nearly everywhere in Oceania this month (and in the past 30 months) and records keep falling:

VANUATU: 31.8C Santo June max. record
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Min 26.0 Honiara June hottest night record tied

Expect more records in July pic.twitter.com/2c1hFrUJPo

— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) June 29, 2025

Reports say Santo recorded 31.8°C, setting a new June maximum temperature record, while the Solomon Islands saw their hottest June night on record at 26.0°C in Honiara.

If you live in Vanuatu, you might think, “We’ve felt hotter days before.” And that’s true.

Vanuatu has seen hotter days

• 38.4°C in Port Vila (March 2018), the hottest officially recorded in Vanuatu.
• About 39°C in Aneityum (December 1980).
• 36°C+ in Santo, Lamap, and Saratmata in past years.

But this year is different because we are seeing unusually warm days in June, a month that is usually cooler and dry.

Why this matters

A hot June signals seasonal shifts linked to climate change. It may not feel extreme, but repeated warm Junes can:

• Stress water supply and gardens.
• Impact coral reefs and fisheries.
• Lead to longer dry periods affecting health and food security.

Could this lead to disaster?

Not immediately, but if this pattern continues, we could face drought, water shortages, and heat stress in our communities.

How can we prepare?

• Store water during rainy months to prepare for dry periods.
• Plant and protect trees to keep our surroundings cooler.
• Stay updated with weather warnings.
• Support community efforts to strengthen climate resilience.

Final thoughts

This year is hot, and June’s record heat is a reminder to pay attention to changing weather patterns in Vanuatu. While one warm day isn’t a crisis, it is part of a bigger pattern that could bring challenges if we don’t prepare.

Using the map above, we see how exposed Vanuatu is to climate shifts. Stay informed, stay prepared, and let’s keep building climate resilience together.

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Disclaimer: This post shares personal reflections and publicly available weather data for discussion and community awareness. It is not official meteorological advice. For accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts, please refer to the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department or trusted weather sources in your area.