May sets new heat record

Last month was the hottest May on record, adding to a recent string of heat records, federal scientists said Thursday.

For the entire month, the average temperature on land and water surfaces was 60.17 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the previous May record by 0.14 degrees, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said. The last record was set last year.

{mosads}The periods from March to May and January to May also set new records based on NOAA’s data, which goes back to 1880.

The regular monthly announcement of temperature data from the agency came the same day that Pope Francis made an urgent call to fight climate change.

Francis cited hot weather as one of the climate change consequences in particular that hurts the poor in developing countries.

NOAA said sea ice in the Arctic Ocean was at its third lowest May extent on record, while Antarctic ice had its largest extent for May ever.

NOAA data showed 2014 was the hottest year on record.

The agency released research earlier this month concluding that there has not been a 15-year “pause” in the rate of global warming, as many climate change skeptics had said.