WASHINGTON (AP) — The globe last month matched a record for the hottest September.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday that September was 60.2 degrees Fahrenheit worldwide, which is 1.2 degrees above normal. That matches 2005 for the hottest September. Records go back to 1880.

For most of the year, world temperatures were warmer than normal, but not near record levels. At the same time, the United States kept setting heat records. But that reversed in September. It was a record hot month for the world, but the United States ranked as only the 23rd hottest. Climate monitoring chief Deke Arndt said the highest heat was in South America, Japan, Russia, Canada and the Atlantic.

This is the 331st consecutive month with global temperatures above the 20th century average.

Posted 10/15/2012