Last April was the hottest April on record, and is the twelfth consecutive month to break temperature records, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

The series of twelve record-breaking months is the longest such streak in the 137-year record of the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, according to the WMO.

Since February 2015, 13 out of the 15 highest ever monthly average temperatures have all occurred.

NOAA said the combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces in April 2016 was 1.10°C (1.98°F) above the 20th-century average of 13.7°C (56.7°F) - the highest temperature jump for April since global records began in 1880.

“Another month, another record,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said.

A global study from NOAA confirmed the findings of separate studies from NASA and the Japan Meteorological Administration, WMO said.

The extraordinary heat that was recorded in 2015 pales by comparison to 2016. It is a combined effect of climate change and El Nino,” said Mr Taalas.

“El Niño is fading fast and will probably give way later this year to La Niña. But any cooling effect from La Niña will be temporary and will not be enough to rein in the global warming from greenhouse gases,” Taalas said.

El Niño is a recurring weather pattern characterised by warm sea temperatures that has multiple effects on global weather.

Taalas added that "the rapid implementation of the Paris Climate Change agreement is taking on the utmost urgency, if the ambitious 1.5-2.0 C targets would be reached."

Last April, a historic agreement on climate change marked a major milestone with a record 175 countries signing on to it.

Under the agreement, countries set their own targets for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The targets are not legally binding, but countries must update them every five years.