"The first eight months of 2012 have been the warmest of any year on record in the contiguous United States, and this has been the third-hottest summer since record-keeping began in 1895, the U.S. National Climate Data Center said on Monday."
"Each of the last 15 months has seen above-average temperatures, something that has never happened before in the 117 years of the U.S. record, said Jake Crouch, a climate scientist at the data center.
Winter, spring and summer 2012 have all been among the top-five hottest for their respective seasons, Crouch said by telephone, and that too is unique in the U.S. record. There has never been a warmer September-through-August period than in 2011-2012, he said."
Deborah Zabarenko reports for Reuters September 11, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Climate Change Will Extend Hay Fever Season By Six Weeks, Report Warns" (Guardian)
"Arctic Sea Ice Falls To Record Low. Global Warming?" (Christian Science Monitor)
"Wisconsin Ranks First in Extreme Heat" (Green/NYT)
"Ageing Population and Climate Change Will Cause 10,000 More Heat-Related Deaths Every Year" (Telegraph)
"The New Dust Bowl" (National Geographic)
"New York Is Lagging as Seas and Risks Rise, Critics Warn" (New York Times)
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