August breaks temperature records

Last month’s global surface temperatures set new August records for the Earth as a whole, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

NOAA’s Thursday report confirmed what the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Monday.

{mosads}The planet’s surfaces averaged 61.45 degrees Fahrenheit in August, beating the previous record set in 1998 and exceeding the 20th century average of 60.1 degrees.

At 62.57 degrees, average sea surface temperatures were the highest of any month since the federal government started keeping records in 1880. The previous record was set only two months prior in June.

Average land temperatures were the second highest on record for August at 58.68 degrees.

The period from June to August set a new record as well as the hottest for that time period. The first eight months of the year were also the warmest on record.

The United Kingdom, however, did not get the brunt of the heat. It actually had its coldest August since 1993, breaking an eight-month streak of warmer-than-average temperatures.

Norway and Austria were among the other countries to see relatively cold temperatures for August.

May and June also set new all-time temperature for all Earth surfaces, and July set one for oceans.