A mild winter for much of the country followed by a warm spring and scorching summer did enough to raise average temperatures across the contiguous U.S. to the highest ever recorded.
Every state in the lower 48 saw temperatures above seasonal averages and 19 set their own annual records. According to the state climatologist, both State College and Scranton recorded their warmest years last year.
While drought was not a major concern in Pennsylvania, there was a point where more than 60% of the U.S. was covered by the drought. Currently much of the Farm Belt and portions of the Southeast are listed by the US Drought Monitor to be in drought conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting food prices to rise as a result of the drought.
Arctic sea ice reached a record low this summer and Greenland saw 97% of its surface thaw in July.
Image courtesy NOAA
While the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Coast saw above normal precipitation, the average across the country was around 2.6" below normal. For Central Pennsylvania, it wasn't until May when we had a wetter-than-normal month and we were drier-than-normal until October. Above-normal precipitation in October and December led Pennsylvania to be 2.66" above normal yearly precipitation.
Every state in the lower 48 saw temperatures above seasonal averages and 19 set their own annual records. According to the state climatologist, both State College and Scranton recorded their warmest years last year.
While drought was not a major concern in Pennsylvania, there was a point where more than 60% of the U.S. was covered by the drought. Currently much of the Farm Belt and portions of the Southeast are listed by the US Drought Monitor to be in drought conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting food prices to rise as a result of the drought.
Arctic sea ice reached a record low this summer and Greenland saw 97% of its surface thaw in July.
Image courtesy NOAA
While the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Coast saw above normal precipitation, the average across the country was around 2.6" below normal. For Central Pennsylvania, it wasn't until May when we had a wetter-than-normal month and we were drier-than-normal until October. Above-normal precipitation in October and December led Pennsylvania to be 2.66" above normal yearly precipitation.
