WASHINGTON — While last month merely tied for the world’s third warmest October in history, 2016 is still on track to be the hottest year on record, federal meteorologists said Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the globe averaged 58.4 degrees, which is 1.3 degrees warmer than the 20th-century average but not as warm as Octobers in 2015 and 2014.

From May 2015 to August 2016, Earth set monthly heat records for 16 straight months.

Scientists blame continued man-made climate change from the burning of fossil fuels, heightened by a now-gone El Niño, the occasional natural warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide.

The first 10 months of 2016 have been the hottest year to date, averaging 59.15 degrees. That beats 2015 by .18 degrees.

NOAA climate scientist Jessica Blunden said it is likely that this year will eclipse 2015 as the hottest year on record. If November and October are just average for the 21st century, it will set a new record.

Associated Press