The Arctic saw the warmest temperatures ever recorded in 2016, according to an annual report released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Rarely have we seen the Arctic show a clearer, stronger or more pronounced signal of persistent warming and its cascading effects on the environment than this year," said Jeremy Mathis, director of NOAA's Arctic Research Program. The Arctic has a considerable effect on the northern hemisphere’s weather with some experts saying the rapid warming of the region could produce “catastrophic” extreme weather events for much of the planet.