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Wildfires in Croatia and other parts of Europe highlighted searing heatwaves in what has turned into the warmest summers on record. Photo: Xinhua
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Earth sweats to third hottest August and summer on record

Climate change
Associated Press
Associated Press
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Earth just sweated through the third hottest August and summer on record.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Monday the globe last month averaged 61.5 degrees (16.43 Celsius), which was a degree-and-a-half higher than the 20th century average, but behind temperatures in 2016 and 2015.

A surfer returns from the riding waves in the midst of an excessive heat warning in Venice, California. Photo: EPA

The average temperature for June through August was 61.47 degrees (16.41 Celsius).

So far the year to date has edged out 2015 and is the second hottest January through August, averaging 58.88 degrees (14.88 Celsius), behind 2016.

Department of Water and Power employees do maintenance work on power lines and poles near downtown Los Angeles, California. Extreme temperatures and heatwaves across California have strained the state's power grid. Photo: EPA-EFE

Records go back to 1880.

NOAA climate scientist Jake Crouch says even though records weren’t broken, it’s been warmer than 99 per cent of the other months and a sign of long-term climate change.

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