Last month was the hottest August on record for global average temperatures over land and ocean surfaces, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Thursday.
The month’s temperature was 1.35 degrees above the 20th century average, the agency said in its monthly climate report.
“It was the largest departure from average of any month on record,” said Jake Crouch, a climate scientist at NOAA, noting that record-keeping began in 1880.
The month’s average land and ocean surface temperature was 61.45 Fahrenheit (16.35 Celsius). The 20th century average for August is 60.1°F (15.6°C).
The period of January to August was also the third warmest on record, said the report.