"May Was Hottest on Earth Since Records Began"

"Average land and ocean surface temperature for May was highest ever, as 2014 shapes up to potentially be hottest year yet"

"Last month was the hottest May globally since records began in 1880, new figures show.

The record heat, combined with increasingly certain predictions of an El Niño, means experts are now speculating whether 2014 could become the hottest year on record.

Data published by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday showed the average land and ocean surface temperature last month was 0.74C above the 20th century average of 14.8C, making it the highest on record."

Adam Vaughan reports for the Guardian June 24, 2014.