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2016 will be the hottest year on record

The U.N. weather agency says 2016 is set to break the record for the hottest year since measurements began in the 19th century. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

MARRAKECH, Morocco – The U.N. weather agency says 2016 is set to break the record for the hottest year since measurements began in the 19th century.

The World Meteorological Organization said Monday that preliminary data through October shows global average temperatures this year are 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

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READ MORE: Worldwide carbon emissions flattened out in past 3 years

That’s getting close to the limit set by the global climate agreement adopted in Paris last year. It calls for limiting the temperature rise since the industrial revolution to 2 degrees C or even 1.5 degrees C.

This year’s temperatures were boosted by the El Nino weather event.

READ MORE: John Kerry says he’ll keep fighting climate change until day Obama leaves office

The previous hottest year was 2015. WMO said 16 of the 17 hottest years have occurred this century, with the only exception being 1998, which was also an El Nino year.

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