Publication Date August 10, 2017 | The Weather Channel

NOAA Climate Report Confirms 2016 Was Planet's Hottest Year on Record

This map shows how much of the planet's surface had above-average temperatures in 2016. Image: NOAA Climate
This map shows how much of the planet's surface had above-average temperatures in 2016. Image: NOAA Climate

At a Glance

Last year was the hottest year for the planet since records began, according to a new NOAA climate report.

It was the third consecutive year that the globe set a record high.

NOAA said global warming and El Niño were major factors in the record-breaking warmth.