This year could beat 2023 for the hottest year on record as 15-month heat streak extends, according to Noaa

The world just had its hottest July ever recorded, elongating a string of monthly temperature highs that now stretch back for 15 consecutive months, US government scientists have announced.

Last month was about 1.2C (2.1F) hotter than average across the globe, making it the hottest July on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said on Thursday. This means that every month for the past 15 months has beaten its previous monthly record.

“The streak started in June 2023 and now exceeds the record streak set over 2015 and 2016,” said Karin Gleason, monitoring section chief at Noaa’s National Centers for Environmental Information, who added that last month’s record was by a “photo finish” small margin over last July.