May 2011 - April 2012 Warmest 12-Month Period In US On Record - 2.8F Above 20th Century Avg.

[hatrack]

As far back as records go (1895), never has the U.S. strung together 12 straight months warmer than May 2011 to April 2012 according to new data released today by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) .

The record-setting 12-month period edged out November 1999-October 2000, the 2nd warmest 12-month period, by 0.1°F. The average temperature was 2.8 degrees F above the 20th century average.

In the last year, the U.S. has experienced its second hottest summer, fourth warmest winter (December through February) and warmest March on record. And NCDC announced April 2012 was third warmest on record.

Twenty-two states experienced their warmest May 2011-April 2012 (12-month) period, including Maryland, much of the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Virginia and several other states had their second warmest May-April period on record.

EDIT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/us-completes-warmest-12-month-period-of-record/2012/05/08/gIQAgsmmAU_blog.html?tid=pm_local_pop

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. March global temperatures were coolest since 1999

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/summary-info/global/2012/3

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Summary Information
March 2012[/font]

[font size=4]National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Climatic Data Center[/font]

[font size=3]March global temperatures were coolest since 1999

Month ranks 16th warmest March for globe; La Niña expected to dissipate by the end of April

The average global temperature for March 2012 made it the coolest March since 1999, yet the 16th warmest since record keeping began in 1880. Arctic sea ice extent during the month was below average but was the largest extent since 2008 and one of the largest March extents of the past decade. Additionally, La Niña conditions continued to weaken during March as temperatures across the equatorial Pacific Ocean warmed during the last two months. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, La Niña is expected to dissipate by the end of April 2012.

…[/font][/font]

[NickB79]

2. Coolest March since 1999, yet still significantly warmer than the 20th century average.

Which just goes to show how much our perception of what's normal has been skewed by years of warming weather.