Bringing The Heat

The National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA") published its "2012 State of the Climate" report on January 8, 2013.  To summarize:  "2012 was the warmest and second most extreme year on record for the continuous U.S.."  This included the warmest spring and the fourth warmest winter on record.  The mean temperature for 2012 was a full 1.0 degree Fahrenheit higher than the previous record holder, 1998.  In addition, 2012 was the 15th driest and second most extreme (e.g., Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac) ever measured.  It was clearly kismet that the Miami Heat would win the NBA championship.