June 2014 has become the second consecutive record-setting month for heat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday. The averge global temperature last month was 61.2°F (16.2°C), which is 0.2°F than 2010, the previously hottest June, and 1.3° degrees higher than the 20th century average. It is the 352nd hotter than average month in a row.
Derek Arndt, NOAA's climate monitoring chief, said unusually hot oceans — especially the Pacific and Indian oceans — were the driving force behind June's heat.
"We are living in the steroid era of the climate system," Arndt said.
Heat records were broken on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. New Zealand, northern South America, Greenland, Central Africa and Southern Asia were especially hot regions. However, it was only the 33rd hottest June in the U.S.
Global temperature records go back to 1880. To date, the year is third hottest on record — behind 2010 and 1998 — but it could become the hottest year on record if an El Niño weather pattern develops.