October was the hottest month in NASA's entire temperature database.

GregLaden writes: Scientists track the global surface temperature, an average of readings from thermometers at approximately head height, and an estimate of sea surface temperatures, in order to track global warming. Over the last year or so we have been seeing many record breaking months, but this month, October 2016, both the Japan Meteorological Agency and NASA has identified October as an extraordinary month.

October 2016 is significantly warmer than any month in the NASA record, which goes back to 1880 (and there were no warmer months, likely, for thousands of years prior to that, or at least, not many).

From these data we can generate numerous rather impressive graphics showing a 12 month moving average, Octobers compared over time, year to date, etc.