A Hot Year So Far for the USA and for the Globe by Helen McKenzie
The first half of the year (January to June) has been the hottest since records began in 1895 for continental USA. Last month was also the second warmest June on record, with below average rainfall. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been monitoring weather trends across the globe, as well as in the US, and have found that globally, June 2006 was the second warmest on record.
The average temperature from January to June for the contiguous Unites States was 1.8C (3.4F) above the 20th century mean. Not a single state was cooler than average, or even close, with five states experiencing record high temperatures.
These warm, dry conditions have been bad news for many. Almost the entire central swathe of the USA is currently experiencing drought conditions of varying degrees. The scale goes from D0, which is abnormally dry, to D4, which is exceptional drought. At least three regions are currently at D4 level.
Conditions have also meant that wildfires have been particularly prevalent this year. South-western parts of the US are currently fighting fires, as reported in yesterday’s World Weather article.
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