Global temperatures in 2011: Provisional statements

According to provisional statements on the status of global climate 2011 is ranked as the 10th or 11th warmest year since records began in 1880. 2011 marks the 35th consecutive year, since 1976, that the yearly global temperature was above average. The warmest years on record were 2010 and 2005. Global climate in 2011 was heavily influenced by the strong La Niña event which developed in the tropical Pacific in the second half of 2010 and continued until May 2011. Global temperatures in 2011 have not been as warm as the record-setting values seen in 2010 but have likely been warmer than any previous strong La Niña year, based on preliminary data (see Graph). Final figures for the whole of 2011 will be available in March 2012.