US Temperature Records Heating Up

Recent months have brought unusual weather to much of the continental U.S. Here's a look at the most notable records, or near misses, as of June 2012.

Temperatures

· July 2011 through June 2012 – warmest 12-month period on record – national temperature was 52.9 degrees Fahrenheit (11.4 degrees Celsius),       which was 4.5 degrees F (2.5 degrees C) above average

· January 2012 through June 2012 – warmest first half a year on record

· 173 all-time record highs set or tied

· 14th warmest June for the nation (1933 was the warmest June on record)

· Colorado had its warmest June on record, with a statewide temperature 6.4 degrees F (3.6 degrees C) above average

Precipitation

· 10th driest June on record nationwide

· 56 percent of the nation in a drought (as of July 3)

· 11 states had rain totals among their 10 driest for June

· Wyoming – Driest June on record with total precipitation was 1.27 inches (3.2 centimeters) below average.

· Florida – Wettest June on record (Tropical Storm Debby contributed to a statewide precipitation 6.17 inches (15.7 centimeters) above average.

· Maine, Oregon and Washington had top 10 wet Junes

· 1.3 million acres (526,000 hectares) of land burned by wildfire – second highest June total