September 2012 tied for the warmest September on record worldwide, scientists from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday.

The average global temperature in September was 60.21°F, or 1.21°F above the 20th-century average. This was the same reading measured in September 2005.

Most areas of the world experienced higher-than-average monthly temperatures, including central Russia, Japan, western Australia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, western Canada and southern Greenland.

September marked the 331st month in a row with a global temperature above the 20th-century average. The last below-average temperature for any month was February 1985.

In the Arctic, sea ice extent averaged 1.39 million square miles for the month, resulting in the lowest monthly sea ice extent on record. Conversely, on the opposite pole, Antarctic sea ice reached its all-time highest daily extent on record on Sept. 26.

Year to date, the world is seeing its eighth-warmest year on record.

The USA itself wasn't particularly warm in September. It was just the 23rd warmest September on record. However, for the year to date, the nation is sweltering through its warmest year on record.

U.S. and global weather records began in 1880.

USA Today