2015 Confirmed as Hottest Year on Record, and by Widest Margin

Scientists have confirmed that 2015 was the hottest year yet recorded, smashing the previous record, which was set in 2014.

During 2015, the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces surpassed the previous record, set last year, by 0.29°F (0.16°C)—making it the largest margin yet. 2015 was 1.62°F (0.90°C) above the 20th century average, reports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was the highest among all 136 years in the 1880–2015 record.

Last year was also the fourth time a global temperature record was set since 2000. Every month except January and April was the hottest yet.

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Note how the hottest areas are about to engulf the entire U.S. from both the Pacific, the south and the the Atlantic.