WASHINGTON - Earth's heat is stuck on high. Federal scientists said the globe shattered monthly heat records for an unprecedented 12th straight month as April smashed the old record by half a degree.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Earth's average temperature in April was 56.7 degrees (13.7 degrees Celsius). That's 2 degrees (1. 1 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average and well past the old record set in 2010.

The first four months of 2016 were 2.05 degrees (1.14 degrees Celsius) higher than the 20th century average and beat last year's record by 0.54 degrees (0.3 degrees Celsius).

NOAA climate scientist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo predicted that 2016 will end up the hottest year on record, for the third straight year.

Scientists blame global warming and El Nino.