World has hottest June on record: NOAA

Last month was the hottest June since record keeping began in 1880, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Monday.

It marked the third month in a row that global temperature reached a record high. According to the NOAA data, April and May were also global record-breakers.

"The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for June 2014 was record high for the month at 16.22 degrees Celsius, or 0.72 degree Celsius above the 20th century average of 15.5 degrees Celsius," the NOAA said in its monthly climate report. "This surpasses the previous record, set in 2010, by 0.03 degrees Celsius."

Nine of the ten hottest Junes on record have all occurred during the 21st century, including each of the past five years, the U.S. agency said.

According to the NOAA report, most of the world experienced warmer-than-average monthly temperatures, with record warmth across part of southeastern Greenland, parts of northern South America, areas in eastern and central Africa, and sections of southern and southeastern Asia.

"Thirty-one countries across every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, reported at least one station with a record warm June temperature," said the report.

It also marked the 38th consecutive June and 352nd consecutive month that the global temperature was above the 20th century average, the NOAA reported.

Only a few areas in North America, Far East Russia, and small parts of central and northeastern Europe were cooler or much cooler than average, it said.

So far this year, 2014 is tied with 2002 as the third warmest year on record, with a global temperature of about 0.67 degree Celsius above average. Only 2010 and 1998 were warmer.

"With the exception of February (21st warmest), every month to date in 2014 has ranked among the four warmest for its respective month," the NOAA added.