United States government scientists on Thursday confirmed that July was the hottest month on record, edging out the previous record-holder, July 2016.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the global average temperature last month was 62.1 degrees Fahrenheit (16.7 degrees Celsius). That is 0.05 degree Fahrenheit higher than July 2016, and 1.7 degrees higher than the average for the 20th century.
The findings are in line with those of European scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, who said earlier this month that July was 0.07 degree Fahrenheit higher than three years ago. Copernicus, NOAA and other agencies around the world use different sets of temperature data in their calculations. NOAA’s dates to 1880.
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The record heat was felt in most parts of the globe, the agency said, including parts of North America, southern Asia, southern Africa and much of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There were no record cold July temperatures anywhere.
Alaska had its hottest July since statewide record-keeping began nearly a century ago. France, Germany and some other European countries endured a searing heat wave at the end of the month, although overall Europe was not as warm as some areas, in part because of cooler conditions in Scandinavia.
