2016 headed for hottest year on record

IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE

* 2016 set to be hottest year on record, the World Meterological Organisation reports.

* Final six weeks of the year would have to be the coldest of the 21st century for the 2016 average temperature to drop below 2015.

* January-September global temperature 0.88 degrees above long-term average.

* 0.11 degrees above the record set in 2015.

* 1.2 degrees about pre-industrial temperature levels.

* 2016 temperatures boosted by very strong El Nino event.

* Northern and eastern Australia one degree or more above average

* Almost entire northern hemisphere, north of the tropics, was at least one degree above average.

* Parts of the Russian Arctic have been 6-7 degrees higher than average.

* Only areas having cooler-than-normal year are southern Western Australia and northern and central Argentina.

* Past 15 years are among the 16 warmest on record.