NOAA - 347th Consecutive Month W. Global Temperatures Above 20th Century Average [View all]

[hatrack]

Last month was the fourth-warmest January since recordkeeping began in 1880. It was also the 347th consecutive month with above-average temperatures compared to the 20th century average, which has been fueled in large part by climate change. That streak is one month shy of 29 straight years.

Global average temperatures were also among their top 10 warmest for the ninth straight month, according to data released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Global average temperatures over land and sea in January checked in 1.17°F above the 20th century average. This is the 38th consecutive January with above-normal temperatures and the warmest since 2007. The last time the globe averaged below-normal temperatures was January 1977, when Miami and the Bahamas experienced their only recorded snowfall.

Siberia was the most anomalously cold place on the planet, with temperatures running as much 9°F below the long-term average. However, many more areas experienced above normal temperatures. France, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland all recorded one of their top 5 warmest Januarys on record. A series of strong winter storms have also drenched the region. China had its second-warmest January recorded while much of southern Africa experienced record warmth. A heat wave also vaulted Australia to its 12th-warmest January since 1910.

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http://www.climatecentral.org/news/play-it-again-january-continues-globes-warm-trend-17097