October 2015 was the earth’s hottest month on record, according to a report published Wednesday by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The month also showed the greatest-ever recorded departure from average October temperatures, compared with data pulled since 1880, Weather Underground reported. The month also marks the second time global temperatures exceeded the historical average by more than 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit. The difference between temperatures in an average October and this year was attributed to climate change and the effects of El Niño.
The NCEI report noted that year-to-date global temperatures were 1.55 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average, meaning 2015 is on track to being the hottest year on record.