Well you probably bundled up before leaving your house this morning. With the snow, ice and wind it sure feels pretty cold out there.
So it may be surprising to hear that 2015, which just ended a month ago - was officially the hottest year on record. That's according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Organization, or NOAA and NASA. The two have been keeping records of average temperatures for the last 136 years.
Not only did 2015 top charts with the warmest year distinction, but 10 out of the 12 months tied or broke monthly temperature records. Fifteen of the 16 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2001.
Experts say the record-breaking heat of 2015 was fueled in part by the ongoing El Nino weather pattern.
Instructional Links
Report with Graphs: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Global Analysis--December 2015
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201512
Website/Video/Graph: NPR.org:A 'Scorcher': 2015 Shatters Record As Warmest Year, NASA And NOAA Say