Dec. 15, 2005 — After a record-breaking hurricane season,
blistering heat waves, lingering drought and a crippling
Northeast blizzard, 2005 is ending as a warm year in the United
States. It will come close to the all-time high global annual
average temperature, based on preliminary data gathered by
scientists at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in
Asheville, N.C. (Click on NOAA image for larger view of USA
significant weather and climate events for 2005. Please credit
"NOAA.") Warmer-than-average 2005 for U.S. NOAA scientists
report that the 2005 annual average temperature for the
contiguous United States (based on preliminary data) will likely
be 1.0 degrees F (0.6 degrees C) above the 1895-2004 mean, which
will make 2005 one of the 20 warmest years on record for the
country. Mean temperatures through the end of November were
warmer than average in all but three states. No state was cooler
than average. A July heat wave pushed temperatures soaring
beyond 100 degrees, and broke more than 200 daily recor