2007 May Rank in Top 10 Warmest Years
This year may be listed
of the 10 warmest years for the contiguous U.S., since national records
began in 1895, according to preliminary data from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center.
The year was marked by exceptional drought in the U.S. Southeast and
the West, which helped fuel another extremely active wildfire season.
The year also brought outbreaks of cold air, killer heat waves and
floods. Meanwhile, the global surface temperature for 2007 is expected
to be fifth-warmest since records began in 1880. Preliminary data will
be updated in early January to reflect the final three weeks of
December and is not considered final until a full analysis is complete
next spring.
The preliminary annual average temperature for 2007 across the
contiguous United States will likely be near 54.3 degrees Fahrenheit;
the twentieth century average is 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This
currently establishes 2007 as the eighth warmest on record. Only
February and April were cooler-than-average, while March and August
were second warmest in the 113-year record.