SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. meteorologists say the world in October continued to set heat records. They say despite a bitter U.S. cold snap, the globe is rushing toward its warmest year on record.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that last month was the hottest October on record. The 58.43 degrees Fahrenheit (14.74 Celsius) beat out October 2003.

Five of the last six months have set monthly global heat records. July is the only exception. NASA and Japan’s weather agency also called it the hottest October on record.

NOAA says with only two months left in the year, 2014 has now surged ahead as the warmest year so far, beating 2010 and 1998. So far this year the world is averaging 58.62 degrees (14.78 degrees Celsius).