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Discussion: December 2024 was the 4th warmest on record given the available 130-year climatology (Fig. 1). The East Coast was near normal while all other states were warmer than normal. Record warmth was observed in Arizona. The western half of the U.S. was in the MUCH ABOVE normal category. The December 2024 precipitation climate was near normal ranked 60th driest (Fig. 2). The Southwest U.S. from Arizona to Kansas was very dry. Arizona observed their 2nd driest December on record. Typical of a La Nina climate, the Mid-south/East-central U.S. (plus New England) was wetter than normal.
Quarter 4 (OCT/NOV/DEC) of 2024 was the warmest in the 130-year-climatology (Fig. 3). All states except Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland were MUCH ABOVE normal. Record warmth was observed in New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. Quarter 4 of 2024 was 43rd driest on record (Fig. 4). Arizona and the Mid-Atlantic States were MUCH BELOW normal precipitation. Conversely, Colorado to Missouri and the Northwest was wetter than normal.
The warmest year on record for the U.S. was 2024 (Fig. 5). All states were either MUCH ABOVE normal or RECORD warm. All-time records were observed in 18 states from Texas/Oklahoma to the Upper Midwest/Northeast U.S. The year of 2024 ranked 19th wettest on record in the U.S. (Fig. 6). MUCH ABOVE normal precipitation was observed in Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Rhode Island with ABOVE normal precipitation occurring in 18 states.
Fig. 1: The DEC-24 U.S. state temperature rankings based on a 130-year climatology.
Fig. 2: The DEC-24 U.S. state precipitation rankings based on a 130-year climatology.
Fig. 3: The Quarter 4/2024 U.S. state temperature rankings based on a 130-year climatology.
Fig. 4: The Quarter 4/2024 U.S. state precipitation rankings based on a 130-year climatology.
Fig. 5: The 2024 U.S. state temperature rankings based on a 130-year climatology.
Fig. 6: The 2024 U.S. state precipitation rankings based on a 130-year climatology.