Earth just had its hottest September in modern recorded history and 2020 is on pace to be in the top 3 all-time hottest years globally, according to NOAA.
![](https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/10/September-2020-Global-Land-and-Ocean-Temperature-Departures-from-Average-Map.png)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA for short, announced Wednesday that the land and ocean temperatures combined to produce the #1 warmest September since 1880.
![](https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/10/10-14-monthly-record-heat.jpg)
Globally, the land and sea surface temperature was +1.75 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the 20th-century average of 59F. This ranks as warmest for all Septembers in the 141-year recorded history. The previously hottest Septembers occurred in 2015 and 2016, coming in at +1.71F to the 20th-century average. Noteworthy locations, over land, that experienced a record hot September were parts of Australia, Asia, Europe, and South America.
Here are some of the highlights of September 2020 globally, courtesy NOAA.
![](https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/10/September-2020-Global-Significant-Climate-Events-Map.png)
There are some statistics to pass along from the poles as well. Sea ice coverage (extent) across the Arctic was second-smallest on record for September, coming in at 38.8% below the 1981-2010 average ice extent. Only September 2012 had a smaller ice extent, according to NOAA. However, the Antarctic sea ice extent was above-average for September, ranking 13th-largest (in ice extent) in the 42-year period (satellite era).
![](https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/10/Arctic-Antarctic-September-2020-Sea-Ice-Extent_0.png)
It has certainly been a hot year so far in 2020, too. Globally, we are on pace for a top 3 finish for hottest years on record across the globe. Year-to-date we are currently sitting in 2nd place at +1.84 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the 20th-century average. That value is only 0.07F shy of the hottest year recorded, 2016.
![](https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/10/January-to-September-2020-Global-Land-and-Ocean-Temperature-Departures-from-Average-Map.png)
This story was originally published
by NOAA and you can access that article here.
Images in this story are courtesy NOAA, NCEI, NSIDC and the University of Colorado.