The first ten months of 2014 have been the hottest since record keeping began more than 130 years ago , according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . That may be hard to believe for people in places like Buffalo , New York , which saw a record early snowfall this year . But NOAA says , despite the early bitter cold across parts of the United States in recent weeks , it 's been a hot year so far for the Earth . With two months left on the calendar , 2014 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record . The average global temperature between January and October has been 0.68 degrees Celsius ( 1.22 degrees Fahrenheit ) higher than the 20th century 's average global temperature of 14.1 C ( 57.4 F ) . NOAA 's analysis is an important `` health gauge '' indicating an ominous trend for the planet , says CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam . `` It 's becoming increasingly more difficult to be a skeptic of the causes of our warming planet , '' he says . Hottest October . This October was the hottest October on record globally , NOAA data showed . The mercury climbed more than one degree Fahrenheit above the 20th century average of 57.1 F. It was the fourth warmest October on record for the United States , NOAA said . `` The record high October temperature was driven by warmth across the globe over both the land and ocean surfaces and was fairly evenly distributed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres , '' the agency said . That 's significant , says Van Dam . `` Most notably , this record warmth is not contained to any specific part of the world . Meaning , we are all in this together , '' he says . `` So far this year , record-breaking warmth has been observed in at least every continent and major ocean basin of our planet . This is something we can not ignore . '' Important benchmark . NOAA 's analysis breaks down global temperatures into two categories -- land and ocean -- then an average that includes both . The record high temperatures in October were recorded across both land and sea . The surface temperature on land approached an important scientific benchmark . It was almost 2 degrees Celsius higher than the 20th century average for October of 9.3 C ( 48.7 F ) . Scientists have long predicted that a change in global average temperature of just 2 to 3 degrees higher could spell disaster for the planet , contributing to catastrophic storms , sea level rise , dangerous storm surges and melting polar ice . According to the non-binding international agreement on climate change -- the Copenhagen Accord , reached in 2009 -- any temperature increase above the 2 degree Celsius mark is `` dangerous . '' NOAA said the ocean temperatures were also the warmest on record in October with an increase of 1.12 F over the 20th century average of 60.6 degrees . Hot spots . `` Record warmth for the year-to-date was particularly notable across much of northern and western Europe , parts of Far East Russia , and large areas of the northeastern and western equatorial Pacific Ocean , `` NOAA said . `` It is also notable that record warmth was observed in at least some areas of every continent and major ocean basin around the world , '' the agency added . Of particular note , several countries have already seen an average temperature increase of more than 2 degrees Celsius in October 2014 compared to 20th century averages , including Australia , Germany , France , Switzerland , and Sweden . There was also one notable cold spot on the map . The average temperature this year in the midsection of the United States , which saw a severe winter , has been below the 20th century average .
NOAA : Global temperatures reached record highs this year . New study shows average global temperatures approaching ` ` dangerous '' benchmark . NOAA data looked at land and sea conditions , then averaged the data . Parts of Europe , and Russia saw more extreme temperature records .