WASHINGTON — Even without an El Nino warming the world’s waters, Earth in February sizzled to its second hottest temperature on record, behind only last year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calculated that February 2017 averaged 55.66 degrees. That was 1.76 degrees warmer than the average for the 20th century.

It was also the second hottest winter in the northern hemisphere on record. The temperature records go back to 1880.

In the past, Earth hasn’t come near record heat if there’s no El Nino. This year it did — on every continent.

NOAA climate scientist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo called it clear evidence of climate change.

She calculated that the rate of February warming since 1980 is twice as high as since 1880.

Associated Press