The five warmest years on record have all occurred since 2012. If you have further questions or comments about the GHCN data or the Climate Data Online interface, you can send an email to NOAA NCEI at ncei.orders@noaa.gov or call them at 1-828-271-4800. Several major storms affected the Northeast during 2020. At the beginning of 2020, only 12 percent of the High Plains region was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought (D1-D4), and these conditions were largely confined to western and southern areas of Colorado and Kansas. The Northeast wrapped up 2020 just barely on the dry side of normal, seeing 43.61 inches (110.77 cm) of precipitation, 98 percent of normal. The largest hailstones observed during the year were teacup-sized (i.e., 3-inch or 76-mm diameter), which were reported in Vernon, AL on March 29th, Darlington County, SC on May 5th, and Lake Mary, FL on May 21st. Like most years, 2020 temperatures were quite variable throughout the year. The lowest known mean sea level pressure on record in Alaska was recorded on the 31st on Shemya Island at Eareckson AFB and registered at 924.8 millibars (27.31 inches of mercury). These areas included portions of northern New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. The greatest rain totals ranged from 4 to 9 inches (102 to 229 mm), with Allentown, Pennsylvania, having its wettest August day with 4.92 inches (124.97 mm) of rain. In 2021, extreme temperatures in the United States caused over 713 million U.S. dollars in economic damage. Drought stress also caused leaves to change color and drop earlier than usual in parts of the Northeast. Many locations had precipitation totals that ranked in the top 10 driest on record, rivaling the drought years of 2017, 2012, and the Dust Bowl. Precipitation ranged from 87 percent of normal in Connecticut and Massachusetts to 126 percent of normal in Delaware, which had its seventh wettest year. Portions of West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic also saw freezing rain, with ice accumulations of up to 0.41 inches (10.41 mm), and sleet. On May 5th, damaging straight-line winds and an associated gustnado were observed in Lancaster County, SC, with the highest estimated gust of 105 mph. One tornado in Delaware was on the ground for over 35 miles (56 km), the state's longest tornado track on record. There were no areas of below-average annual temperatures observed across the Lower 48 during 2020. In August, every state except for Arkansas and Oklahoma experienced warmer than normal temperatures, while every state except for Oklahoma and Texas experienced wetter than normal conditions. Every state except for Oklahoma experienced warmer than normal temperatures while every state except for Texas experienced wetter than normal conditions. Average UK temperature for 2020 as a whole was 9.62C, which is behind only the years 2014 (9.88C) and 2006 (9.70C), and marginally warmer than 2011 (9.61C). Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 0.14 Fahrenheit (0.08 Celsius) per decade since 1880, or about 2 F in total. Five of the six largest wildfires in California history also occurred during 2020. Red indicates places that were warmer than average, and blue indicates places that were colder than average. Issued 12 January 2021: Unless otherwise noted, temperature and precipitation rankings refer to a 126-year period of record (1895-2020), and long-term average refers to the 20th century (1901-2000) value. On the 30th, San Juan (18982020) observed its second wettest July day on record, with 4.46 inches (113 mm) of precipitation. Crops largely reached maturity and were harvested after drying down in the field. Dozens of swift water rescues were performed by emergency personnel, with five flood-related fatalities reported at a campground in Alexander County, NC. Asheville, NC (18692020) observed its highest annual count of 157 days with measurable precipitation, while Miami, FL (18952020) tied its highest annual count of 30 days with at least 1 inch (25 mm) of precipitation. On June 26th, Tampa, FL tied its warmest daily maximum temperature for any month on record, at 99 degrees F (37.2 degrees C). Seven major climate sites including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; and Atlantic City, New Jersey, tied their record for least snowy spring (March through May). A total of 13 tornadoes were spawned by Delta, including an EF-1 tornado that injured 2 people at a homeless shelter in Newton County, GA on October 10th. Tropical Storm Fay formed on July 9, becoming the earliest F named storm. March was an exceptionally warm month for the region, as three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) experienced a top-5 warmest March on record, while Oklahoma experienced a top-10 warmest March on record. For a small area of northwest Oregon, western Washington, and northern Idaho, drought conditions improved with removal of drought for these locations. Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (18842020) and Hickory, NC (19492020) observed their wettest February day on record, with 5.36 and 5.31 inches (136 and 135 mm) of precipitation, respectively. Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware each ranked warmest on record with six additional states' minimum temperatures ranking second warmest on record. In September, every state except for Louisiana and Mississippi experienced cooler than normal temperatures, while every state experienced wetter than normal conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor released on October 1 showed 45 percent of the Northeast in an extreme, severe, or moderate drought and 25 percent as abnormally dry. Strong thunderstorm winds accounted for about 85 percent (3,256 of 3,843) of the severe weather reports and caused at least 10 fatalities and 34 injuries across the region. Searching by zip code will yield no results if there is no weather station within that zip code, but you can easily expand your search to a city or county. Fires were a major issue across Colorado and Wyoming this year, with the three largest fires in Colorados history burning this summer and fall. Through the end of summer, most of the Southeast region remained drought-free, except for a few short-lived pockets of moderate drought in portions of northern and coastal Virginia, Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and west-central Florida. In addition, Burlington, Vermont, tied its greatest number of June days with a high of at least 90 degrees F (32 degrees C). Roanoke, VA (19122020) reported 8.32 inches (211 mm) of rainfall during this event, which is its fourth wettest 3-day rainfall total for any month on record. The average global land and ocean surface temperature for January 2022 was 0.89C (1.60F) above the 20th century average of 12.0C (53.6F). A historic snowstorm dropped snow on almost every part of the Northeast from December 16 to 17. Utqiagvik reported an annual temperature of 14.6 F (-9.7 C), 3.1 F (1.7 C) above normal and the 8th warmest since 1921. Across the region, there were hundreds of closed roads, stranded vehicles, water rescues, and buildings affected by flooding. Yield losses in Iowa were due to a combination of drought and damages from the derecho. Percentage Areas Very Warm/Very Cold Very Wet/Very Dry Climate at a Glance U.S. Hartford, Connecticut, tied its coldest June temperature on record on June 1 with a low of 37 degrees F (3 degrees C). Drought conditions expanded in coverage and intensified rapidly over the next month, with moderate-to-severe drought covering 83 percent of Florida by mid-April. Several tropical systems affected the Northeast this year, with Tropical Storm Fay, Tropical Storm Isaias, and Tropical Storm Zeta being particularly noteworthy. In Alabama, greenhouses and plastic bedding on vegetables were significantly damaged by Zetas high winds. This years severe weather season ended below the 5- and 10-year averages for the High Plains region, in terms of tornado, hail, and wind reports, according to the Storm Prediction Center. For instance, a roof was blown off a store in Cape May, New Jersey, and a cow barn was tossed into a power pole in Rockland, Massachusetts. On January 11th, a thunderstorm wind gust of 75 mph (34 m/s) in Greene County, AL blew a very large tree down onto the water main in Forkland, and many thousands of gallons of water spilled out of the water tower. The tornadoes downed trees, destroyed outbuildings, and damaged roofs and siding of some buildings. At least five of these stations were located in every state, including many of the major cities within the region. The wettest locations were found across much of Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, northern and central Georgia, the western half of the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Florida, and Puerto Rico. Power outages affected millions in the region with many outages lasting days or even weeks in some cases. In May, a Midland, Michigan dam failed due to heavy rains over three days, 17th-19th. June, July, and December also ranked among the warmest 20 percent (top 25) of history for the region. For the West Coast fires, the exceptionally dry winter followed by a dry and hot summer and autumn were the main climate contributing factors. To the north, in western Pennsylvania, three weak (EF-0 or EF-1) tornadoes damaged trees and buildings, the Pittsburgh International Airport recorded its second highest thunderstorm wind gust on record at 75 mph (34 m/s), and a hangar and plane were destroyed at the Arnold Palmer Municipal Airport. This is ~0.15 C (~0.28 F) cooler than in 2020. Hurricane Iota was the second-strongest November hurricane on record for the Atlantic and was the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record to occur so late in the calendar year. On April 13th, the strongest tornado of the year across the Southeast region occurred in Hampton County, SC. Regional snowpack, as measured by the 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE), did not stray too far from normal in 2020. About 30 percent (1,154 of 3,843) of these reports were observed during April. January 2021 marked the first time since October 2019 (0.37%) where a record cold temperature occurred. Damage in the form of snapped and uprooted trees occurred to the west of the school, along with the more significant roof uplift and partial outer wall collapse of the schools gymnasium. Most of the contiguous U.S. experienced above-average temperatures during 2020. Caribou, Maine, had its hottest June on record, all-time hottest day, longest stretch of days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C), and greatest number of June days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). Storm snow totals exceeded 24 inches (61 cm) in an area stretching from central Pennsylvania through New York and into northern New England, where snow fell at rates of at least 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) per hour. Thousands of Christmas tree saplings died and some mature trees dropped excessive amounts of needles or turned yellow in New England. In late May, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Vermont, set/tied their hottest May day on record. Damage was spread across Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. The remnants of Hurricane Cristobal moved across the region June 8th-10th. There were at least 60 injuries and 4 deaths attributed to the storm system. NOAA Climate.gov maps from our Data Snapshots collection, based on data from NCEI. Warm and dry conditions led to drought development in California and Nevada and major drought intensification in the Four Corners states during Calendar Year 2020. There were three months (January, February, and September) where every state was wetter than normal and one month (November) where every state was drier than normal. There were seven tropical cyclones that directly impacted the Southern Region in 2020. Below-average temperatures occurred across parts of the Southeast Interior region. This was the states largest winter tornado outbreak. On October 7, a derecho produced a 320-mile (515 km) long path of damage from central New York to eastern New England. The U.S. Drought Monitor released on August 27 showed 37 percent of the Northeast in a severe or moderate drought and 23 percent as abnormally dry. Strengthening to a hurricane, Isaias made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, NC on August 3rd, with peak sustained winds of 85 mph (38 m/s) and a maximum wind gust of 99 mph (44 m/s) in Federal Point, NC. From May 19th through the 21st, a slow-moving upper-level low ushered in a deep stream of moisture across the western Carolinas and southwestern Virginia, with 72-hour precipitation totals exceeding 8 inches (203 mm) and numerous reports of localized flooding. This dryness eased by mid-February, with the Northeast becoming free of abnormal dryness for the first time since July 2019. In Alaska, annual temperatures were above normal along the North Slope, in western coastal Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands. The persistence of nighttime warmth was exceptional for many locations across the region, particularly in Florida. Overview and Graphics Winter 2020-2021 Climate Summary: Temperatures averaged near to slightly below normal for the season. More than 10,000 residents of Midland were evacuated in less than 12 hours with no loss of life. During summer and fall, groundwater levels were also well below normal in many drought areas. On August 5th, a 42-year-old man and a 77-year-old man were struck and killed while cleaning up debris from Hurricane Isaias in Wilmington, NC. 2022 was the sixth-warmest year on record based on NOAA's temperature data. Baker City, in northeast Oregon, saw its warmest year on record going back to 1944 with an annual average temperature 48.3 F (9.1 C), 3.9 F (2.2 C) above normal. Within the year there was a slight increase in summer, another slight decrease during autumn, and finally a substantial increase during the winter. On January 13th, a microburst damaged a school in Sampson County, NC. Tropical Storm Isaias, the Atlantic Oceans earliest "I" named tropical system on record, produced extreme rainfall, tornadoes, and damaging winds in the Northeast on August 4. The 2020 fire season was very active and ramped up in mid-summer and extended well into autumn. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Chester Creek rose to its fourth highest water level on record, exceeding its previous fourth highest level set days earlier. 2020 was a year of transition for the High Plains region, as cool, wet conditions over the past two years gave way to a warmer and drier regime. More than 4.3 million acres were consumed across California during 2020. There were over 106,000 daily temperature records tied or broken during 2020. The combination of heavy rain, melting snow, and wet antecedent conditions led to flooding in central/eastern New York, the eastern half of Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Global monthly temperature anomalies, with ENSO status All state rankings are based on the period spanning 1895-2020. Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power in the Northeast, including more than 115,000 customers in Massachusetts. This years drought could reduce next years growth of red oak and white pine trees in New Hampshire. In some areas, the 2019 fall harvest extended well into 2020, and wet soils and flooding in the spring caused additional impacts to agriculture and infrastructure. Annual precipitation averaged across the Midwest was 37.72 inches (958 mm), 0.78 inches (20 mm) above normal. However, after the month of February, temperatures were at 0.80C (1.44F) or higher for the remaining months of 2021. The snow from the storm helped Caribou have its second longest streak with at least an inch (2.54 cm) of snow depth at 159 days (November 12, 2019 to April 18, 2020). Meanwhile, northern locations received heavy snow, with the greatest totals of more than 12 inches (30 cm) in New York and northern New England. The solar day over the course of the year 2021. Flash flooding due to heavy rain occurred again in parts of Maryland, Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on August 12 and 13. Wetter-than-normal weather during December helped alleviate drought and abnormally dry conditions in much of the Northeast. Although the season was below average, it was more than the 1993 to 2020 minimum of 23,000 acres set in 2004. Sixteen of the long-term stations observed or tied their warmest annual mean temperature on record, including Miami, FL (18952020; 79.3 degrees F, 26.3 degrees C), Tampa, FL (18902020; 76.3 degrees F, 24.6 degrees C), Savannah, GA (18742020; 70.4 degrees F, 21.3 degrees C), Cape Hatteras, NC (18932020; 66.8 degrees F, 19.3 degrees C), and Norfolk, VA (18742020; 64.0 degrees F, 17.8 degrees C). The lack of a need for supplemental drying was a benefit for farmers. The statewide temperature rankings for 2020 were as follows: Arkansas (thirty-eighth warmest), Louisiana (ninth warmest), Mississippi (tenth warmest), Oklahoma (twenty-eighth warmest), Tennessee (thirteenth warmest), and Texas (seventh warmest). The timing was particularly bad for farmers that were in the midst of harvesting a variety of vegetable crops bound for holiday tables, including sweet corn, green beans, lettuce, cabbage, and radishes. Upper Missouri Basin snowpack peaked in mid-April at just above normal above Fort Peck Reservoir and between Fort Peck and Garrison Reservoirs, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Winter wheat was also impacted, with at least 15 percent of the crop in poor to very poor condition at the start of 2021 in Colorado (34 percent), Kansas (17 percent), and Nebraska (15 percent), according to the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service. Global average surface temperature has risen at an average rate of 0.17F per decade since 1901 (see Figure 2), similar to the rate of warming within the contiguous 48 states. Flooding in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and portions of New Jersey and Maryland led to road closures, stranded vehicles, and water rescues. The states fire tower network was extended due to increased fire risk. In June, dam releases were reduced in New Hampshire due to dropping lake levels, resulting in small hydropower plants no longer being able to generate power. Farther inland, winds gusted over 50 mph (22 m/s) in northern Georgia, Upstate South Carolina, and North Carolina, resulting in widespread downed trees and power outages. There were 3,843 severe weather reports across the Southeast region during the year, which is over 130 percent of the median annual frequency of 2,936 reports during 20002019. Four states (Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio) have had six straight years above normal while the other five states, and the region as a whole, were below normal in 2019. Farmers dealt with extremely dry conditions. Arkansas experienced its seventh-wettest August on record. Multiple residences were destroyed by this fire, and many residents were told to evacuate the area. The California fire season started slow but then exploded due to a rare dry thunderstorm event in mid-August. While cotton producers in the Florida Panhandle continued their harvest, some noted that cotton yields were particularly poor this year from excessively wet weather. All state rankings are based on the period spanning 1895-2020. The heavy, wet snow and strong winds downed trees and caused more than 266,000 customers in Maine, around a third of the state, to lose power. For additional details regarding these highlights, please see the following pages: *Temperature and precipitation values and ranks are based on preliminary data. On June 3, a line of intense thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 93 mph (42 m/s) raced across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Of the 17 lightning fatalities across the United States during the year, seven occurred within the Southeast region, which is below the median annual frequency of 11 fatalities from 20002019. Binghamton also tied its lowest maximum temperature for May with a high of 35 degrees F (2 degrees C). There were no areas of below-average annual temperatures observed across the Lower 48 during 2020. Wet weather continued to delay field work across North Carolina, with reports of negative impacts on the wheat crop due to waterlogged soils. Mitchell, NC on December 26th. The year started off on the warm side, with winter temperatures generally above normal, except for western areas of Colorado and Wyoming. Back-to-back storms from February 5 to 8 brought an extreme mix of weather conditions to the Northeast. Several other locations had one of the five snowiest Octobers on record. The average temperature in the contiguous United States reached 53.37 degrees Fahrenheit (11.87 degrees Celsius) in 2022. In addition, Interstate 81 near Binghamton, New York, was shut down for several hours due to disabled vehicles. From May 8 to 11, the polar jet stream plunged south and Arctic air spilled into the Northeast, with many areas seeing snow. This ranked as the 37th wettest in history since 1895. Maple syrup production was slowed in Connecticut, with one producer expecting to lose around $60,000 in revenue. The Four Corners region began 2020 with a sizeable area of severe drought that has expanded and intensified with exceptional drought present in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado by the end of 2020. Due to its. Concord, New Hampshire, saw 24.2 inches (61.5 cm) on December 17, making it the sites all-time snowiest day on record and qualifying as the largest December snowstorm. October was mixed with respect to temperature, with three states (Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas) experiencing cooler than normal temperatures while three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) experienced warmer than normal temperatures. A rare tornado outbreak occurred on February 7 in Maryland where five tornadoes touched down: an EF-0 and four EF-1s. In addition, almost 400,000 customers lost power. LaGuardia Airport and Central Park, New York, recorded their warmest Novembers on record. These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. For the year, there were areas in all six states that averaged between 1 to 2 degrees F (0.56 to 1.11 degrees C) above normal, while parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee averaged 2 to 3 degrees F (1.11 to 1.67 degrees C) above normal. The area of drought in southwestern Florida persisted until early June, while the area of drought in coastal Alabama lasted until late June. Twelve of the 35 major climate sites had their least snowy February on record. One of the wetter locations was northern Washington, west of the Cascades. Every state reported wetter than normal conditions. For instance, the Perkiomen Creek at Graterford, Pennsylvania, reached 19.14 feet (5.83 m), nearly a foot (0.30 m) higher than its previous record from 1935. In addition, Highlands was only 3.44 inches (87 mm) short of exceeding the highest annual precipitation total ever recorded in North Carolina, which occurred just two years ago on Mt. The highest winds, over 100 miles per hour (161 km per hour), were in central Iowa causing severe damage to crops and trees. Precipitation was primarily wetter than normal, although Arkansas and Texas were slightly drier than normal. Further south, Stockton, California reported its warmest year on record (in the past 72 years) at 64.8 F (18.2 C), 3.5F (1.9 C) above normal. No locations reported record cold or even in the bottom ten coldest years on record. There were road closures, some evacuations, and reports of water in houses. There were numerous closed roads, submerged vehicles, and dozens of water rescues. Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought covered about 22 percent of the CONUS on December 29 the largest extent of D3 and D4 drought since August 2012 (24 percent). From November 8th through the 12th, Tropical Storm Eta produced 5 to more than 10 inches (127 to more than 254 mm) of rainfall across portions of west-central and southern Florida. The statewide average annual precipitation totals are as follows: Arkansas received 63.43 inches (1611.12 mm), Louisiana received 66.40 inches (1686.56 mm), Mississippi received 68.22 inches (1732.78 mm), Oklahoma received 39.10 inches (993.14 mm), Tennessee received 65.40 inches (1661.16 mm), and Texas received 26.04 inches (661.42 mm). With respect to precipitation, Oklahoma experienced its fifth-wettest March on record while Texas experienced its seventh-wettest March on record. Every state experienced a warmer than normal winter, with every state experiencing a top-20 warmest winter on record while Tennessee experienced its sixth-warmest winter on record. Cordova had its 4th driest year dating back to 1910 with 64.02 in (1626.11 mm, 71% of normal) and Kenai also saw its 4th driest year since records began in 1900 at 11.72 in (297.69 mm, 64% of normal). 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Flooding led to road closures in portions of Maryland and Delaware. The global mean temperature in 2021 is estimated to have been 1.21 C (2.17 F) above the average temperature from 1850-1900, a period often used as a pre-industrial baseline for global temperature targets. Flooding issues were noted especially in eastern Kentucky in February, the Ohio River flood plain in the spring but also along the Mississippi River system. All state rankings are based on the period spanning 1895-2020. On June 10, Dulles Airport, Virginia, tied its warmest June low temperature with a low of 74 degrees F (23 degrees C). In addition, storm surge flooding reached 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in Pensacola, which is the third highest storm surge ever recorded in the city. There were at least five storm-related deaths. Water restrictions were in place for hundreds of locations in New England, as well as some locations in New York and Pennsylvania. In addition, Baltimore, Maryland; Hartford, Connecticut; LaGuardia Airport, New York; Philadelphia and Scranton, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; and Washington, D.C. recorded their greatest number of days with a high of at least 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) for any month on record. There were approximately 4,523 severe weather reports throughout the Southern Region for 2020, with 394 tornado reports, 1,310 hail reports, and 2,819 wind reports. With many of these large fires burning simultaneously, heavy smoke and poor air quality impacted many of the western states and Canada over many days during September. Pasture and rangeland conditions were rated very poor (the lowest level) for 70 to 90 percent of southern New England, while 10 percent of Pennsylvanias corn crop was rated very poor, making it some of the worst corn condition ratings in the country. In addition, several stations observed their highest or second highest annual count of days with a minimum temperature at or above 75 degrees F (23.9 degrees C), including Fort Lauderdale, FL (19122020; 186 days, 51 percent of the year), Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (19112020; 132 days, 36 percent of the year), Vero Beach, FL (19422020; 98 days, 27 percent of the year), and Albany, GA (18922020; 44 days, 12 percent of the year). A few small pockets of moderate drought developed in north-central Puerto Rico during late December. During the fall, some Florida citrus growers reported extremely heavy fruit drop within their groves, which was partially attributed to premature blooming during the winter 20192020 season as well as a persistence of heavy rainfall throughout the year. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., saw less than an inch of snow for the season for only the third time since 1885. Additional data received and processed after the release of this summary may result in small differences for annual values and ranks. Wildfire activity across Alaska was below average and consumed approximately 181,000 acres in 2020 only 15 percent of the 2010-2019 average. Caribou, ME, also had significant snow during the 2019-2020 season receiving 146 inches and ranked ninth highest for any season on record. Kentucky was the wettest state with 9.97 inches (253 mm) above normal which ranked as the 8th wettest in its history. For instance, in February 2023, the average temperature across the North American. Above-average conditions were observed across much of the North Slope, West Coast and the Aleutians, primarily due to the lack of coastal sea ice. Annual losses in 2020 exceeded $95 billion, the fourth highest cost on record. March 2021 was: 0.19C warmer than the 1991-2020 average for March. During October, beneficial rainfall improved drought conditions in portions of New England; however, drought and abnormal dryness expanded or intensified in parts of New York and Pennsylvania. Numerous fallen trees, mudslides, and river flooding were reported in southwestern Puerto Rico, according to local emergency management officials. Meanwhile, Bismarck, ND had its second wettest year in 2019, followed by its third driest in 2020 (period of record 1874-2021). Dropping to 16 degrees F (-8.9 degrees C) on December 26th, Greensboro, NC (19032020) ended its longest streak of 694 consecutive days with a daily minimum temperature at or above 20 degrees F (-6.7 degrees C), surpassing the previous record by 277 days. Precipitation was drier than normal across all six states. Excessive rainfall, paired with high humidity, in Georgia slowed the drying down of corn, with many farmers battling whiteflies and boll rot in cotton. In addition, there were two EF-0 tornadoes, one in eastern New York and one in eastern Massachusetts. For several other locations in the Northeast, the storms daily or two-day snow total ranked among the ten greatest for December or any month on record. The global land-only surface temperature was the eighth highest on record at +1.40C (+2.52F).