2020 and 2016 tie for the hottest years on record
Last year, record-breaking heat waves struck around the world
![man wearing mask at Santa Monica beach](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/011421_cg_2020-temp_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
A record-breaking, intense heat wave struck Southern California (including Santa Monica, shown) in September 2020.
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