The December–February average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 36.8°F, 4.6°F above the 20th century average, surpassing the previous record of 36.5°F set in 1999/2000. The exceptionally warm December boosted the contiguous U.S. winter temperature. The February temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 39.5°F, 5.7°F above the 20th century average, ranking as the seventh warmest on record and warmest since 2000.

The winter precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 8.05 inches, 1.26 inches above the 20th century average. This was the 12th wettest December–February on record for the Lower 48 and the wettest since 1997/1998. The February precipitation total was 1.93 inches, 0.20 inch below average, and ranked near the median value in the 122-year period of record.

This monthly summary from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision making.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of February 2016 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

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The post U.S. Climate Report: February 2016 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

The autumn precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 8.32 inches, 1.44 inches above the 20th century average. This was the 15th wettest September-November on record for the Lower 48 and the wettest since 2004. The November precipitation total was the fourth wettest on record with 3.30 inches, 1.07 inches above average. Record and near-record precipitation was observed across the Great Plains and Southeast.

This monthly summary from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision making.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of November 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: November 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

This monthly summary from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision making.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of September 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: September 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

The summer precipitation total for the contiguous United States was 9.14 inches, 0.82 inch above average. Driven largely by rainfall early in the season, it was the 16th wettest summer on record. The August precipitation total for the lower 48 was 2.36 inches, 0.26 inch below average, and the 28th driest on record. Drought and wildfires plagued the West and severe drought emerged in the South.

This monthly summary from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision making.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of May 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: August 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

The July precipitation total for the contiguous United States was 3.16 inches, 0.38 inch above average. This was the 14th wettest July on record, and it marked the fourth consecutive month with above-average precipitation for the Lower 48. Above average precipitation was observed across much of the West, Great Plains, and Ohio Valley. Below-average precipitation was observed in parts of the Southeast, Great Lakes, and Northwest.

This monthly summary is provided by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of May 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: July 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

Drought continued to intensify in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, while flooding rains impacted the Ohio Valley. The wet season ends in California and the Pacific Northwest by the end of April, minimizing the chance for significant drought improvement going into summer.

This monthly summary is provided by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of April 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: April 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

The May precipitation total for the contiguous United States was 4.36 inches, 1.45 inches above average. This was the wettest May on record, and the wettest month of any month, in the 121-years of record keeping. For the spring season, the contiguous U.S. precipitation total was 9.33 inches, 1.39 inches above average, and the 11th wettest on record.

This monthly summary is provided by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of May 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: May 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

The March contiguous U.S. average temperature was 45.4°F, 3.9°F above the 20th century average—the 12th warmest March on record and warmest since 2012. Near-record warmth spanned from the Great Plains to West Coast and parts of the Southeast, while the Northeast was cooler than average. The March Lower 48 precipitation total was 2.08 inches, 0.43 inch below average, tying the 19th driest March on record. Below-average precipitation was widespread across the northern tier and the Southeast, with above-average precipitation in the Southern Plains and Ohio Valley.

This monthly summary is provided by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

The maps below show how the average temperature, and precipitation values for the month of March 2015 deviate from the 30-year normals (1981-2010).

– Click on Map to Zoom In –

The post U.S. Climate Report: March 2015 first appeared on The How Do Gardener.