In the Desert Southwest, Roswell, New Mexico reported its warmest year on record since records began in 1949 with an annual average temperature of 64.6 F (18.1 C), 3.8 F (2.1 C) above normal. Unfortunately, in early June the total area experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions began to increase. Through the end of summer, most of the Southeast region remained drought-free, except for a few short-lived pockets of moderate drought in portions of northern and coastal Virginia, Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and west-central Florida. Like most years, 2020 temperatures were quite variable throughout the year. Only January-May of 2010 and 2016 were warmer. On December 31, a strong low-pressure system over the north Pacific Ocean deepened to 921 millibars (27.20 inches of mercury) as it crossed over Attu Island, the westernmost of the Aleutian Island chain. Ultimately, the year ended with over 80 percent of the region in drought (D1-D4), and these conditions caused a number of impacts over the course of the year. Due to its. Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought covered about 22 percent of the CONUS on December 29 the largest extent of D3 and D4 drought since August 2012 (24 percent). The seven other states ranked between 13th and 26th in their respective histories. Wet weather continued to delay field work across North Carolina, with reports of negative impacts on the wheat crop due to waterlogged soils. This dryness eased by mid-February, with the Northeast becoming free of abnormal dryness for the first time since July 2019. These fires burned thousands of acres of forest and rangeland, caused evacuations, closed roads, and impacted air quality. State of the climate: 2021 sees widespread climate extremes despite a The Rio Grande and Great Basin were both at 91% of normal, the Pacific Northwest and Upper Colorado both at 107% of normal, and the Lower Colorado at 108% of normal. Preliminary estimates indicated millions of dollars in damage from flooding along the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Five of the six largest wildfires in California history also occurred during 2020. One tornado in Delaware was on the ground for over 35 miles (56 km), the state's longest tornado track on record. Other sites saw only a trace, but for Islip, New York, it made May a snowier month than February. Snowfall totals of 2 to more than 8 inches were found across portions of northern Virginia, with the greatest accumulation of 11.5 inches (292 mm) measured in Bayse, VA. About 200 vehicle crashes and 125 disabled vehicles were reported by the Virginia State Police along I-81 and across northern Virginia. Regional snowpack, as measured by the 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE), did not stray too far from normal in 2020. The tornado, the first of the year in New England, snapped and uprooted trees. Over time, the "normal" annual U.S. temperature has grown warmer, and the "normal . Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov Wind gusts of up to 62 mph (28 m/s) accompanied the storm in coastal areas, where minor to moderate flooding occurred. Six hurricanes made U.S. landfall, tying 1886 and 1985 for the most U.S. hurricane landfalls in a single season. For instance, Sioux Falls, SD had its second wettest year on record in 2018, its wettest year in 2019, and then its sixth driest in 2020 (period of record 1893-2021). The storms winds also downed trees and power lines. Low streamflow and warm water temperatures prompted several states to take actions to protect aquatic species. Annual temperature departures were above normal for nearly all of the Western U.S. The tornadoes downed trees, destroyed outbuildings, and damaged roofs and siding of some buildings. The severe weather season got off to a very slow start this year, with only 10 tornado watches issued nationally during May. The statewide temperature rankings for 2020 were as follows: Arkansas (thirty-eighth warmest), Louisiana (ninth warmest), Mississippi (tenth warmest), Oklahoma (twenty-eighth warmest), Tennessee (thirteenth warmest), and Texas (seventh warmest). In Maine, potato yields were expected to be down by at least 20 percent and wild blueberry yields were reduced due to drought and frost. There were scattered areas of below normal temperatures across Arkansas that averaged 0 to 1 degrees F (0.00 to 0.56 degrees C) below normal. SUPER LINER All Weather Floor Mats for Tesla Model Y 5-Seat 2021 2022 Conversely, Oklahoma had the fewest tornado reports (31), Tennessee had the fewest hail reports (60), and Louisiana had the fewest wind reports (256). For the individual nations, it was the second warmest . In addition, hundreds of pecan trees were uprooted across southern Alabama, with some of the losses occurring in 90-year-old orchards. Wildfire activity across Alaska was below average and consumed approximately 181,000 acres in 2020 only 15 percent of the 2010-2019 average. Twelve of the 35 major climate sites had their least snowy February on record. 2021 Year-to-Date Temperatures Versus Previous Years January-May 2021 Blended Land and Sea Surface Temperature Percentiles Regionally, Africa's year-to-date temperature was 1.28C (2.30F) above average and the third highest for the January-May period on record. This was a record fifth consecutive year with at least one Category 5 storm in the Atlantic. Several notable widespread wind events occurred in the Northeast this year. Dry conditions prevented farmers from planting crops, and for those that were planted, moisture stress led to slowed growth and reduced yields. Indiana was barely below normal (-0.04 inches or -1 mm), while Minnesota (-3.75 inches or -95 mm) and Iowa (-5.84 inches or -148 mm) were well below normal. Storm snow totals exceeded 24 inches (61 cm) in an area stretching from central Pennsylvania through New York and into northern New England, where snow fell at rates of at least 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) per hour. Even in these areas, the wetness became a memory as drought developed and expanded in the late summer, fall, and early winter. The most costly events of the year include: Hurricane Laura, the Western wildfires and the Midwest derecho. There were numerous road closures and several water rescues. There were approximately 4,523 severe weather reports throughout the Southern Region for 2020, with 394 tornado reports, 1,310 hail reports, and 2,819 wind reports. The Northeast wrapped up 2020 just barely on the dry side of normal, seeing 43.61 inches (110.77 cm) of precipitation, 98 percent of normal. The highest thunderstorm wind gust recorded during the year was 84 mph (38 m/s), which was measured near Mountain Lake, VA as a squall line moved through southwestern Virginia on April 8th. Every state with the exception of Louisiana had at least one month that was top-10 wettest on record, and two states (Mississippi and Oklahoma) had one month that was top-5 wettest on record. Numerous trees and branches were felled due to a combination of strong winds, drought stress, and being fully leafed. Dam releases were performed in the Lamprey River watershed in New Hampshire, while a section of the Salmon River in New York was closed to fishing and Connecticut officials delayed restocking trout and salmon in the Farmington River. Drought conditions expanded or intensified across much of the western U.S. and southern to central High Plains throughout 2020 with persistent above-average temperatures and precipitation deficits in place across much of the West. Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had their least snowy seasons (October through May) on record. Rhode Island officials noted that fires were climbing trees and were concerned that items like lawn mowers and chains could spark fires, which is a behavior more typical of western U.S. wildfires and unusual in the Northeast. Bellingham, Washington recorded 41.36 in (1050.54 mm, 115% of normal) making it the sixth wettest year since 1949. This was the seventh highest January in the 142-year global record. National Climate Report | National Centers for Environmental This is ~0.02 C cooler than in 2016, and ~0.02 C warmer than 2019. Alaska experienced its coldest first two months of the year in 2020 and coldest winter (December 2019 - February 2020) since 1999. Strong thunderstorm winds accounted for about 85 percent (3,256 of 3,843) of the severe weather reports and caused at least 10 fatalities and 34 injuries across the region. Although the vast majority of the Midwestern derecho impacted areas to the east of the region, it is worth noting that this was an incredibly devastating storm that caused an estimated $7.5 billion in damage, according to NOAAs U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters event database. Several other locations had one of the five snowiest Octobers on record. Below-average precipitation fell across much of the West, northern Plains and parts of the Northeast. Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power in the Northeast, including more than 115,000 customers in Massachusetts. The U.S. Drought Monitor released on October 1 showed 45 percent of the Northeast in an extreme, severe, or moderate drought and 25 percent as abnormally dry. The California fire season started slow but then exploded due to a rare dry thunderstorm event in mid-August. U.S. annual average temperature 2022 | Statista April was primarily cooler and wetter than normal, with every state except for Louisiana and Texas experiencing cooler than normal temperatures while every state except for Oklahoma and Texas experienced wetter than normal conditions. Because they are updated once per decade, the Normals gradually come to reflect the "new normal" of climate change caused by global warming. Meanwhile, for those looking to get out and enjoy the weather, fires, along with poor air quality from the smoke, impacted a range of recreational activities. There were 8 fatalities from Hurricane Zeta, including in Acworth, GA where a large oak tree was uprooted and fell onto a mobile home, killing a man. The 2020 fire season was very active and ramped up in mid-summer and extended well into autumn. Temperatures across the region for 2020 averaged 1.2 degrees F (0.7 C) above normal. Above-average temperatures were also seen in portions of Bristol Bay, Central Interior and Northeast Interior regions. Flooding issues were noted especially in eastern Kentucky in February, the Ohio River flood plain in the spring but also along the Mississippi River system. In addition, about 36,000 homes and businesses in Virginia were without power following the height of the storm. There were over 106,000 daily temperature records tied or broken during 2020. Winds gusted to 82 mph (37 m/s), with locally higher gusts of up to 100 mph (45 m/s) in eastern New York. The year started off on the warm side, with winter temperatures generally above normal, except for western areas of Colorado and Wyoming. The total cost of U.S. billion-dollar disasters over the last five years (2016-2020) exceeds $600 billion. Model Y All Weather interior liner are comprised of High vertical walls compare to other floor mats in the market. Many waterways in drought areas across the Northeast saw below-normal streamflow during summer and the first half of fall. However, from the 12th through the 16th, Sally impacted parts of Florida with numerous reports of localized flooding, resulting in several road closures, stalled vehicles, and water entering multiple residences and businesses. Mount Washington, New Hampshire, had its highest August wind gust of 147 mph (66 m/s). Thirteen tropical cyclones (Tropical Storm Arthur, Tropical Storm Bertha, Tropical Storm Cristobal, Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Isaias, Tropical Storm Kyle, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Marco, Hurricane Sally, Tropical Storm Beta, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, and Tropical Storm Eta) brought high winds, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, storm surge, and tornadoes to widespread portions of the Southeast region, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware each ranked warmest on record with six additional states' minimum temperatures ranking second warmest on record. Buffalo, New York, recorded its hottest July temperature on record and saw eight consecutive days with a high of at least 90 degrees F (32 degrees C), its longest streak on record. Fires were a major issue across Colorado and Wyoming this year, with the three largest fires in Colorados history burning this summer and fall. The damage pattern suggested that this tornado may have had multiple vortices, which can occur with the strongest tornadoes. More than 2.5 million customers lost power, making it one of the largest storm-related outages for two energy companies. This led to rapid rises and moderate flooding on some waterways. On January 31st, Charlotte, NC continued its record of reporting at least a trace of snow in every winter season since 1878. The rapid drop in temperatures, from warm conditions just prior to the freeze, exacerbated the situation. There were numerous closed roads, submerged vehicles, and dozens of water rescues. These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. In fact, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had its fourth wettest July day on record with 4.15 inches (105.41 mm) of rain on July 10. All state rankings are based on the period spanning 1895-2020. Cordova had its 4th driest year dating back to 1910 with 64.02 in (1626.11 mm, 71% of normal) and Kenai also saw its 4th driest year since records began in 1900 at 11.72 in (297.69 mm, 64% of normal). Four states (Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio) have had six straight years above normal while the other five states, and the region as a whole, were below normal in 2019. Despite Record Heat Waves, This Likely Won't Be - The Weather Channel The global mean temperature in 2021 is estimated to have been 1.21 C (2.17 F) above the average temperature from 1850-1900, a period often used as a pre-industrial baseline for global temperature targets. It encompassed nearly the entire West, Northern and central Plains, Great Lakes and much of the East, including. The 8.59.5 feet (2.62.9 meters) of storm surge destroyed many sand dunes and sea turtle nests in Oak Island, NC. Caribou, Maine, had its hottest June on record, all-time hottest day, longest stretch of days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C), and greatest number of June days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). Crops largely reached maturity and were harvested after drying down in the field. In contrast, places such as Boulder, CO, experienced its snowiest season on record with 152 inches of snow. In June, dam releases were reduced in New Hampshire due to dropping lake levels, resulting in small hydropower plants no longer being able to generate power. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, it was the latest occurrence of snow on record for the New York City area climate sites, which saw a trace. These six regions differ spatially from the nine climatic regions of the National Climatic Data Center. Massachusetts had more than 1,000 wildfires as of late September, with 52 fires in a nine-day period from late September to early October. Peaking in intensity in early July, moderate-to-severe drought conditions covered over half of the island. Low reservoir levels and streamflows were contributing factors to the widespread drought intensification in 2020 throughout the West. Pasture and rangeland conditions were rated very poor (the lowest level) for 70 to 90 percent of southern New England, while 10 percent of Pennsylvanias corn crop was rated very poor, making it some of the worst corn condition ratings in the country. On August 31st, a line of slow-moving thunderstorms brought over 5 inches of rainfall to Johnston County, NC, where a 5-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother were swept away in floodwater. Climate Extremes Index (CEI) Climatological Rankings Citing This Report While February, March, and the spring season were record-setting for their lack of snow, May featured record-setting snowfall in a few locations. It was also just the third to make it as far north as Wisconsin. During the fall, some Florida citrus growers reported extremely heavy fruit drop within their groves, which was partially attributed to premature blooming during the winter 20192020 season as well as a persistence of heavy rainfall throughout the year. Over 1,000 wells were affected in New Hampshire, where some well drilling contractors had a waitlist of over 100 people or a 6 to 12 week wait. There were two months (March and November) where the entire region experienced a top-10 warmest month on record. Highly-localized flooding was also noted on western Long Island and in northeastern Massachusetts. For a small area of northwest Oregon, western Washington, and northern Idaho, drought conditions improved with removal of drought for these locations. No locations reported record cold or even in the bottom ten coldest years on record. Issued 12 January 2021: Unless otherwise noted, temperature and precipitation rankings refer to a 126-year period of record (1895-2020), and long-term average refers to the 20th century (1901-2000) value. Climate Normals will shift from 1981-2010 to 1991-2020. About 30 percent (1,154 of 3,843) of these reports were observed during April. Over 45 percent (77 of 168) of the long-term stations observed annual mean temperatures that were within their five warmest values on record.