October was a hot month. Just how hot? According to data released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last month was the second hottest October ever recorded since 1880 when data collection began.

So far, 2018 has been the fourth hottest year on record.

According to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, October 2018 marks the 42nd consecutive October, and the “406th consecutive month with temperatures, at least nominally, above the 20th century average.”

October 2018 global average temperatures. Data via NOAA.

In fact, no record cold temperatures were seen anywhere in the world last month, according to NOAA. Instead, record warm temperatures were seen everywhere from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to Alaska, Russia, Australia, and central Africa.


The global average temperature experienced in October was 1.55°F above the 20th-century average (57.1°F). Last month was only surpassed by 2015 when October reached 1.78°F above average.

Around the world, countries experienced “significant climate anomalies and events” last month. This includes the late season’s Hurricane Michael, which was the fourth most intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. based on wind speeds.

Climate events around the world in October 2018 according to NOAA.

Bahrain had its wettest October on record since 1902: Precipitation recorded by its international airport reached 19.9 mm, 40 times more than its monthly average. And towards the end of October, Typhoon Yutu became the strongest storm to ever hit the Mariana Islands.

At the poles, the Arctic saw its third smallest amount of sea ice for the month since records began in 1979. In the Antarctic, sea ice extent was at its fourth smallest October level.

Yet, as deadly wildfires continue to rage in California — very late into the season and fuel by hot, dry conditions made worse by climate change — the U.S. government continues to evade the issue.


The Trump administration continues to actively work to undo environmental protections and increase the use of fossil fuels. Officials also continue to ignore the link between warmer global temperatures and more intense and devastating events like hurricanes and wildfires despite witnessing it with their own eyes and in their own states.

Just this week, President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke came under scrutiny for their comments about the wildfires. Zinke doubled down on incorrectly placing blame on environmentalists. And Trump, when asked if the wildfires changed his opinion on climate change, said, “No, no…. I want great climate. We’re going to have that.”