The year 2007 to be warmest on record? The Met Office, UK, has forecast that the year 2007 is likely to be the warmest on record. An extended warming period, resulting from an El Niño event, is likely to increase global temperatures. The global surface temperature is projected to be 0.54°C above the long-term average of 14°C, beating the current record of 0.52°C, which was set in 1998.

The forecasters also revealed that in 2006 the United Kingdom had its the highest average temperature since records began in 1914.

The annual projection was compiled by the Met Office, UK’s Hadley Centre, in conjunction with the University of East Anglia.

See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20061214.html