May Global Temperatures Second Warmest on Record

According to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, the globally-averaged temperature for May 2012 marked the second warmest May since record keeping began in 1880. May 2012 also marks the 36th consecutive May and 327th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average.
Most areas of the world experienced much warmer-than-average monthly temperatures, including nearly all of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, most of North America and southern Greenland. Only Australia, Alaska and parts of the western U.S.-Canadian border region were notably cooler than average.

With the dissipation of La Niña in April, ocean conditions in May were neutral. According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, there is a 50-percent chance that El Niño conditions will emerge during the second half of 2012.

- NOAA