US says world experienced hottest November in 134 years

WASHINGTON, December 17, 2013 (AFP) – The month of November was the hottest experienced on Earth since record-keeping began in 1880, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week.

The finding was based on globally averaged land and ocean surface temperatures last month, NOAA said in a statement.

“The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for November 2013 was record highest for the 134-year period of record,” NOAA said.

The average temperature was 0.78 Celsius (1.40 Fahrenheit), above the 20th century average of 12.9 Celsius (55.2 Fahrenheit), NOAA said.

It was also the 37th November in a row with worldwide temperatures above the 20th century average.

In fact, the last 28 years have been warmer than normal, NOAA added.

“The last below-average November global temperature was November 1976 and the last below-average global temperature for any month was February 1985,” the agency said.

Many parts of the world had warmer than average temperatures last month, while record warmth was seen in parts of Russia, India and the Pacific Ocean.

“Russia observed its warmest November since national records began in 1891,” said NOAA.

There were no parts of the world with record cold temperatures last month, but parts of Australia and North America were cooler than average.