Last month was the hottest August ever recorded, as year of climate extremes continues

Last month was the hottest August ever recorded, according to climate records the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has stretching back 174 years .

The three-month period from June to August was also the hottest-ever for that stretch.

Sea ice extent in August hit a record low for all Augusts on record, 550,000 square miles below previous record set in August 2019 .