NOAA’s announced on January 7 that a warm December in 2015 boosted the year’s overall average temperature to the second warmest ever recorded in the contiguous United States. The year was also the 19th consecutive year of temperatures above the 20th century average. NOAA’s data indicate that every state experienced an above-average annual temperature in 2015, with extreme warmth in the West at the start of the year and in the East by the end. The year also brought 10 weather and climate-related disasters with costs exceeding $1 billion, including drought, a wildfire event, two floods and five severe storms. Every month, NOAA announces State of the Climate summary information, which includes several graphics and information including annual temperature anomalies for dozens of metropolitan cities.