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This October was so freakishly warm it broke records, say scientists

Global temperature records have been broken eight times in 2015. Last month was the hottest October since record keeping began in 1880.

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Courtesy of NOAA
October 2015 average global land and ocean temperature was the highest for October since records began in 1880.
  • By Michael Regan

October 2015 now stands as the month with hottest above-normal temperatures ever recorded.

Last month broke previous records by a third of a degree, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Global land surface averages in October were 2.39 Fahrenheit above the 20th century average. The month's freakish warmth represented "the greatest departure from average for any month in the 1630 months of recordkeeping," according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

The report comes after scientists predicted 2015 would be the hottest year in history exceeding high temperatures last year, when the earth’s surface averaged were 1.22 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to NOAA.

NOAA said global temperature records have been broken eight times this year. October averaged 58.86 degrees with data going back to 1880.

"A complete blowout," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, to the AP. "This year is going to be an all-time record-breaker."

NASA, the Japanese Meteorological Agency and several research institutes all have cited data confirming October’s new record.

Many researchers say El Niño is likely a part of the reason for the higher temperatures, though for two decades the world has seen higher temperatures overall, according to The Washington Post. Global monthly temperature records have been shattered 32 times since 2000, the AP reported.

NOAA climate scientist Jessica Blunden is among a coalition of experts who say El Niño has played a factor in the higher temperatures, while global warming also is also to blame.

USA Today said new records were set last week in the equatorial waters of the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures were 5 degrees F above previous records over a seven-day period and probably caused by El Niño, several meteorologists said. The World Meteorological Organization said is the “among the three strongest since 1950.”

“Severe droughts and devastating flooding being experienced throughout the tropics and sub-tropical zones bear the hallmarks of this El Niño, said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.”Which is the strongest for more than 15 years.” 

This report contains material from the Associated Press.

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