Earth's average temperature matches record high set a day earlier

Earth's average temperature on Wednesday remained at an unofficial record high set the day before, the latest grim milestone in a week that has seen series of climate-change-driven extremes.

The average global temperature was 17.18 Celsius, according to the University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world's condition.

That matched a record set Tuesday, and came after a previous record of 17.01 Celsius was set Monday.

While some countries had colder weather than usual, heat waves hit cities from Peru to Canada.