1st half of 2017 second hottest ever on record, behind 2016
The first half of 2017 was the second warmest in the 137 years of record keeping, only behind last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Earth's average temperature from January to June was 14.4 ÂºC, 1.6 ÂºC warmer than the 20th-century average. Further, June 2017 was the third warmest June ever recorded, NOAA reported.