Last month was the hottest January and the ninth consecutive month to break temperature records, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The strong El Nino continued to have an impact, with global average land and sea temperatures 1.04 degrees above the 20th-century average.

It was the warmest January since records began 137 years ago, and its departure from average was the second-highest, beaten only by December last year, which was 1.11 degrees above average.

Northeasterly flows brought above-average temperatures to much of New Zealand, according to NOAA. The nationwide temperature was 0.6 degree above the 1981-2010 average.

Temperatures remained above the 1961-90 average across Australia. The average mean difference for the month was +0.52 degree.

“Tasmania was the warm spot, with an average mean temperature that was 1.79 degrees above average, its second highest [difference] for January, behind only 1961.”

NOAA says the El Nino will continue to weaken this month, transitioning into neutral conditions, with a possible switch to a La Nina in the southern hemisphere spring.