21 October 2014: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported record-breaking average temperatures in many parts of the world during the first three quarters of 2014. Drawing from a variety of datasets in the run-up to its provisional annual ‘Statement on the Status of the Global Climate,’ to be released in November, WMO also announced that Arctic sea ice shrunk to its 2014 minimum of 1.94 million square miles on 17 September, the sixth smallest area since 1979. Antarctic ice, however, reached its largest annual maximum (7.76 million square miles) since 1979 on 22 September.

Data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that the global average temperature over ocean and land surfaces was higher in September 2014 (at 15.72°C or 60.30°F) than in any previous September on record. This average is 0.72°C (1.30°F) above the 20th century average of 15.0°C (59.0°F) for the month. In addition, 2014 is the 38th consecutive year when the month has recorded an average temperature above that of the 20th century.

Overall, the global average temperature over the first nine months of the year tied with 1998 for the warmest January-September period on record. May, June and August were also the warmest to date; January, March, April and July all ranked among the four warmest compared to the respective months of previous years. According to NOAA, if the same degree of departure from the averages continues for 2014, it will be the warmest year yet. [WMO Press Release]