During most of 2015, starting in the spring, record and near-record precipitation was observed across parts of the central CONUS, helping to end multi-year drought conditions in the Southern Plains and contributing to record breaking flooding. However, long-term precipitation deficits and drought conditions continued to plague most of California by the end of the year. By the end of the year, that pattern had flipped, with record and near-record temperatures across most of the East and near- to below-average temperatures for much of the West, associated with much needed above average precipitation across the region. In the East, the early-year cold was accompanied by heavy snowfall for some locations, including Boston, Massachusetts, which set a new seasonal snowfall record with 110.6 inches of snow. Beneficial precipitation began to fall across the region by the end of the year, consistent with the strong El Niño that developed during 2015. The early-year warmth in the West as accompanied by below-average precipitation and record low mountain snow packs, contributing to crippling summer drought and a record-breaking wildfire season in the region. The year started out with record and near-record warmth across most of the West, and record and near-record cold in the Midwest and Northeast. Over the 121-year period of record, precipitation across the CONUS has increased at an average rate of 0.16 inch per decade. During both 19 strong El Niño conditions were present in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, similar to 2015. This was the third wettest year on record. Precipitation averaged across the CONUS in 2015 was 34.47 inches, 4.53 inches above the 20 th century average. Since 1895, when the national temperature records began, the CONUS has observed an average temperature increase of 0.14☏ per decade. The last year with a below-average temperature was 1996. This marks the 19 th consecutive year that the annual average temperature for the CONUS was above the 20 th century average. The warmest year on record was 2012 when the annual average temperature was 55.3☏.
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This was the second warmest year in the 121-year period of record for the CONUS. In 2015, the contiguous United States (CONUS) average temperature was 54.4☏, 2.4☏ above the 20 th century average.