It was a month that saw much of Europe sizzle, the mass melting of ice in Greenland, and record highs in Alaska, southern Asia, and southern Africa.
Meteorologists now confirm July was the hottest month measured on Earth since records began in 1880.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a report released Thursday that July was 0.95 degrees Celsius warmer than the 20th century average for the month.
The results had been expected after several European countries reported new all-time temperature records in July.
Scientists say the upward trend will likely continue because of man-made climate change.
Last month narrowly topped the previous July record, set in 2016, by 0.03 C.
The NOAA says nine of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2005—with the last five years ranking as the five hottest.
Last month was also the 43rd consecutive July and 415th consecutive month with above-average global temperatures.
June of this year had already set a sizzling record for that month over the past 140 years.
“The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic lows,” the NOAA
The year to date is also 0.95 C above the long-term average, but still slightly behind 2016.
With files from Associated Press
CHEK News
