June 2014 Was Hottest on Record

Last month was the hottest June on record, and the 352^nd consecutive month in which temperatures were above the 20^th century average, according to the U.S. National Climatic Data Center. “The heat was driven in large by part by the hottest ocean temperatures since recordkeeping began more than 130 years ago,” Kahn reports. “That makes this the third-warmest start to the year.” Specific hot spots included New Zealand, a large part of East Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia.