Global temperatures in February were at its highest levels since record-keeping began in January 1880, marking the 10th consecutive month of record warmth on Earth, according to the U.S. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 56.08°F (13.31°C) in February, which is 2.18°F (1.21°C) above the 20th century average. This makes it not only the warmest month ever recorded, it also sets a record for the highest departure from a monthly average.
During the month of February, much of North and South America experienced warmer to much warmer than average conditions, with the average temperature in Alaska rising a record 12.4°F (6.9°C). Large parts of Europe, meanwhile, experienced a month marked by both warmer temperatures and above-average precipitation.
Warmer-than-average conditions were also present across much of western Asia, with some countries experiencing temperatures of more than 9°F (5°C) above the average. Cooler-than-average conditions were seen in parts of Russia and China, but the continent still recorded its 3rd warmest February since 1910.
Africa, Australia and New Zealand also experienced warmer temperatures, and devastating drought hit islands in the Pacific Ocean, forcing the Marshall Islands to declare a State of Disaster. The region also saw Tropical Cyclone Winston, which became one of the strongest cyclones to ever make landfall in Fiji.
The Earth has now experienced 10 consecutive months of record-breaking global weather, and the six highest monthly temperature departures on record have now all occurred in the last six months. The year 2015 also marked the warmest year on Earth since record-keeping began.
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