'Hottest year' record likely for 2014 after warmest October

Snip>>> If the last two months of the year are only average for the 21st century, it will still be the warmest year ever, Arndt said.


October was the 5th month to break a heat record this year

The Associated Press Posted: Nov 20, 2014 4:46 PM ET| Last Updated: Nov 20, 2014 4:46 PM ET

Despite a bitter cold snap in parts of North America, the globe is rushing hell-bent toward its warmest year on record with last month setting the fifth monthly heat record of the year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that last month was the hottest October on record worldwide. The 14.74 Celsius (58.43 degrees Fahrenheit) beat out October 2003.

"It is becoming pretty clear that 2014 will end up as the warmest year on record," said Deke Arndt, climate monitoring chief for NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. "The remaining question is: How much?"

With only two months left in the year, 2014 has now surged ahead as the globe's warmest year so far, beating 2010 and 1998. So far this year, the world is averaging 14.78 degrees Celsius (58.62 degrees Fahrenheit). If the last two months of the year are only average for the 21st century, it will still be the warmest year ever, Arndt said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/hottest-year-record-likely-for-2014-after-warmest-october-1.2843913