The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), weather agency of the United States (US) has released its findings confirming earlier reports that July 2019 has been the hottest July on record since 1880.

"Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as temperatures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic lows," the agency said, as reported by PTI.

The report corroborates earlier findings by the European Union. Large parts of Europe and North America had faced record-setting heatwaves during the last month. Alaska and Africa as a whole too faced sweltering heat, both recording their hottest Julys ever since records were being maintained.

"Nine of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2005-with the last five years ranking as the five hottest," the NOAA report adds.

Artic sea ice was at a record 19.8 per cent below average, while Antarctic sea ice was 4.3 percent below the 1981-2010 average, the smallest for a July in the 41-year old record.