Last May was the hottest worldwide since records began in 1880 and could pave the way for the warmed year on record, according to a US agency.

 

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show the combined average global land and ocean temperature in May was 0.74°C above the 20th Century average of 14.8°C, making it the record highest for the month.

 

It follows the NOAA's finding that April 2014 was also the hottest April ever by its records, while worldwide, March to May was the second warmest ever behind 2010.

 

The global land surface temperature in May was 1.13°C above the 20th century average of 11.1°C, the fourth highest for May on record. For the ocean, the May global sea surface temperature was 0.59°C above the 20th century average of 16.3°C, making it the record highest for May and tying with June 1998, October 2003, and July 2009 as the highest departure from average for any month on record.

 

Measurements from the NOAA, Met Office's Hadley Centre, and NASA, are combined by the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which ranks 2010 as the warmest on record, and claims 13 of the 14 warmest years on record occurred in the 21st century.

 

The high temperatures could be compounded by this year's expected El Niño effect, which can cause droughts and higher temperatures. Some forecasters have said there is a 90 per cent likelihood of El Niño this year.