"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. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Climate Change Will Extend Hay Fever Season By Six Weeks, Report Warns" (Guardian) [3]

"Arctic Sea Ice Falls To Record Low. Global Warming?" (Christian Science Monitor) [4]

"Wisconsin Ranks First in Extreme Heat" (Green/NYT) [5]

"Ageing Population and Climate Change Will Cause 10,000 More Heat-Related Deaths Every Year" (Telegraph) [6]

"The New Dust Bowl" (National Geographic) [7]

"New York Is Lagging as Seas and Risks Rise, Critics Warn" (New York Times) [8]