![Beachgoers enjoy the hot weather at Coogee Beach on Jan. 13, 2016 in Sydney.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/heat-weather.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Last month was the hottest January ever recorded, the ninth straight month to break such a record, government scientists said Wednesday.
The average temperature around the globe was 1.87°F (1.04°C) higher than the 20th century average of 53.6°F (12.0°C) in January, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report. That’s 0.29°F (0.16°C) warmer than the previous January record set in 2007.
The record heat comes as little surprise to climatologists. The ongoing El Niño climate pattern, potentially the strongest on record, and continuing climate change both led scientists to predict last fall that 2016 would be the warmest year on record. El Niño is expected to weaken during spring or summer, according to NOAA.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com