The U.S. in December
It wasn’t just a few days in Alaska that were weirdly hot in December. Just about every state in the continental U.S. experienced higher than average temperatures, and preliminary data from weather stations across the country show that December 2021 was the hottest December on record. The month ended about 5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 degrees Celsius) above normal.
Some states were hotter than others. Texas, no stranger to short-sleeve New Years’ Eve parties, recorded its hottest December in 130 years. Last year also marked the first time Texas experienced a month with temperatures at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average.
