Record Breaking Warm Start to 2012

This March, over 15,000 warm temperature records were broken or tied in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) . In 21 record-setting cases, low (nighttime) temperatures were as warm as, or warmer than, the previous record daytime high. The average 2012 first-quarter temperature in the contiguous United States was 42 degrees Fahrenheit, 6 degrees Fahrenheit above average, breaking the record by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The 12-month period (April 2011-March 2012), which includes the second hottest summer (June-August) and fourth warmest winter (December-February), was the warmest such period for the contiguous United States.

Although global warming did not cause the unusual weather, NOAA stated, "Our current estimate of the impact of GHG [greenhouse gas] forcing is that it likely contributed on the order of 5 percent to 10 percent of the magnitude of the heat wave during 12-23 March." Meteorologists attribute the warmth to a combination weather patterns, including La Nina, a weather pattern that kept cold air in the Arctic during January and February, and a "heat dome" in the jet stream during March.

This article was originally published on Monday, April 16, in EESI’s Climate Change Newsletter . Published weekly, Climate Change News recounts the top climate science, business, and politics stories of the week and includes a list of upcoming events and pending federal legislation. Click here to sign up for a free email subscription.