Another global heat record broken

More heat records were set around the globe last month, including Earth's hottest August.

May, June and August all set global heat records this year, according to meteorologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Meteorologists said Thursday that the average world temperature in August was 61.36 degrees Fahrenheit (16.35 degrees Celsius), breaking a record set in 1998.

August was especially hot in the Pacific and Indian oceans and Africa, but cooler in parts of the United States, Europe and Australia.

NOAA records go back to 1880.

The first three-quarters of 2014 are the third warmest on record. NOAA climate scientist Jake Crouch said there's a good chance that 2014 will end up as the hottest year ever.

Nine of the 10 warmest Augusts on record have occurred since the year 2000.

The world's oceans also set an all-time heat record for surface temperature last month, with August narrowly edging out the previous record set in June.