WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- This October was the hottest October ever recorded globally, according to new data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
That month continued a trend, with 2014 on pace to become the hottest year ever on record, according to the federal agency. October marked the third consecutive month and fifth of the past six with a record high global temperature for its respective month. July was fourth highest.
NOAA said the ocean temperatures were also the warmest on record in October, up 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit over the 20th century average of 60.6 degrees.
NOAA breaks down global temperatures into two categories -- land and ocean -- and averages both. The record high temperatures in October were recorded on land and sea.
"It is also notable that record warmth was observed in at least some areas of every continent and major ocean basin around the world," the agency said.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam says the latest report from NOAA indicates an ominous trend.
"It's becoming increasingly more difficult to be a skeptic of the causes of our warming planet," he says.
