May global temperature ties as third warmest on record May temperature map (National Climatic Data Center / June 20, 2013) By Bettina Boxall June 21, 2013, 6:15 a.m. Last month was among the hottest Mays in the 134-year global record, tying with 1998 and 2005 as the third warmest. According to an analysis released Thursday by the National Climatic Data Center, May's combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces was 1.19°F above the 20th century average of 58.6°F. The agency reported that regions experiencing record warmth included north-central Siberia, west-central Australia, parts of northern and eastern Europe, portions of northern Africa and the Philippines. Overall, the average global land temperature was the third warmest on record, 2.00°F above the 20th century average. There were exceptions. Western Greenland was hit by record cold. And at the South Pole in Antarctica, minimum temperatures for May broke records on two days.