Cool: Earth’s 16-month record heat streak finally ends

WASHINGTON – Federal meteorologists say Earth’s 16-month streak of record high temperatures is finally over.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says last month’s 60.6 degrees (15.9 Celsius) was merely the second hottest September on record for the globe. That’s slightly cooler than the September record set last year. But it was warmer than the 20th century average.

NOAA climate scientist Jessica Blunden says a lack of a record doesn’t reflect an end to global warming. Natural variability means not every month sets records.

NASA, which averages global temperature differently, considers last month as record hot. But the space agency’s list doesn’t have the same big hot streak. It didn’t consider June as record hot.

Records go back to 1880.