Nov. 13--This past month was the third-warmest October in California since officials began keeping records more than a century ago, continuing the state's pattern in what is likely to be its hottest year ever, according to government climatologists.
The average temperature statewide last month was 64.5 degrees, less than one degree under the all-time record set in 2003, the National Climatic Data Center reported.
In the larger view, 2014 remains on pace to be California's warmest year with an average temperature through October that is 1.6 degrees above the previous hottest years -- 2003 and 1992 -- when the average through October was 62.2 degrees.
Records for California go back to 1895.
The warmer weather has affected all aspects of California life, including more work for lifeguards, warmer waters off Central California and poorer air quality for Southern California.
Cities are implementing fines for citizens who use too much water as California goes through one of the worst droughts in its history. More than half of California is considered to be under extreme drought.
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