The European Union's climate watchdog says this year could be the hottest on record

Last month was the second-hottest September on record globally, and overall this year looks set to be the hottest on record.

The European Union's climate monitoring agency Copernicus Climate Change Service said Tuesday that last month's global average temperature was second only to last September, the hottest year on record, but that warmer months are expected to surpass last year's record, AFP reported.

This September, the world experienced extreme rainfall and damaging storms, events that are becoming more frequent and severe as temperatures rise, all linked to climate change.

Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States, Typhoon Santal hit Taiwan, and Storm Porris also brought flooding and destruction to Central Europe during a month of bad weather.