Counties in Mississippi with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
Written by:
January 3, 2023
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Counties in Mississippi with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
Hitting 116 degrees F in normally temperate Portland, Oregon. 105 degrees in Reno in September, just as summer is meant to be waning. And in California's Death Valley National Park, temperatures hit almost 130 degrees in the aptly named Furnace Creek, marking a world record for the hottest September day in history.
2021 and 2022 saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, as across the country extreme heat waves wreaked havoc on communities accustomed to more moderate weather. For many regions, the consequences were grave: in the 2021 Western heatwave, hundreds lost their lives, largely due to a lack of air conditioning, and wildfires ravaged the area.
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Map of the past year's temperatures compared to the 100-year average
While not every county in the nation has experienced such extreme heat, climate change has dramatically changed the heat landscape in nearly every state. Coastal regions and the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and are also frequently targets of extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.
Just as all states are not impacted equally by rising temperatures, regions within states have also seen widely different temperature changes over the last decades. Factors such as proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, and mountains can dramatically change the climate of a region. Stacker cited data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Center for Environmental Information to identify the counties in Mississippi with the greatest departure from average temperatures during the period December 2021 to November 2022 compared to the 1901-2000 average. Average temperature over the past year served as a tiebreaker. Additional data on recent average high and low temperatures for each county is also included.
#50. Tippah County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
#49. Lafayette County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.4 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.8 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.4 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.8 F (2.5 F above century average)
#48. Calhoun County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.8 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.8 F (1.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
#47. Yalobusha County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- #11 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#46. Kemper County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.1 F above century average)
#45. Scott County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.6 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.6 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
#44. Smith County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.4 F (2 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.4 F (2 F above century average)
#43. Covington County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.5 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.5 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.8 F (1.7 F above century average)
#42. Lincoln County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.6 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.6 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#41. Amite County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #10 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
#40. Greene County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (1.6 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (1.6 F above century average)
#39. Perry County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
#38. Monroe County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.3 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
#37. Grenada County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.6 F (2.4 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.6 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#36. Forrest County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
#35. Tallahatchie County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76 F (2.1 F above century average)
#34. Noxubee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
#33. Issaquena County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.6 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.6 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
#32. Sharkey County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.8 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #9 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.8 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.4 F (2.1 F above century average)
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#31. Jefferson Davis County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
#30. Lawrence County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79 F (1.8 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79 F (1.8 F above century average)
#29. Pike County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
- #8 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
#28. Lamar County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.1 F (1.6 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.1 F (1.6 F above century average)
#27. Stone County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.7 F (1.9 F above century average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.7 F (1.9 F above century average)
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#26. George County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 80.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 80.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
#25. Chickasaw County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.7 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.5 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (2.7 F above century average)
#24. Winston County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.7 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.4 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.7 F (2.5 F above century average)
#23. Clay County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.8 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.8 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.6 F above century average)
#22. Lowndes County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.6 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
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#21. Walthall County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.2 F (2.1 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.2 F (2.1 F above century average)
#20. Marion County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 67.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 56.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.3 F (1.7 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 56.2 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.3 F (1.7 F above century average)
#19. Harrison County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.6 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.6 F (1.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.4 F (2.5 F above century average)
#18. Prentiss County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.9 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 50.9 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 74.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
#17. Neshoba County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.6 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.6 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
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#16. Pearl River County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 56.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 56.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (2.2 F above century average)
#15. Hancock County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (2.8 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.9 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79.5 F (2.8 F above century average)
#14. Union County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.7 F (3 F above century average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.7 F (3 F above century average)
#13. Oktibbeha County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.6 F above century average)
#12. Holmes County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.2 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.2 F (1.9 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.2 F (2.6 F above century average)
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#11. Humphreys County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 55.1 F (2.2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77.3 F (2.3 F above century average)
#10. Jasper County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.8 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.8 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.8 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.8 F (2.5 F above century average)
#9. Jackson County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 68.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.6 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 80 F (2.8 F above century average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 57.6 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 80 F (2.8 F above century average)
#8. Itawamba County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 63.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.9 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 51.7 F (2.1 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 75.9 F (2.6 F above century average)
#7. Pontotoc County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.1 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (3.1 F above century average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.1 F (1.7 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.2 F (3.1 F above century average)
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#6. Carroll County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.2 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.8 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.2 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.8 F (2.8 F above century average)
#5. Lauderdale County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.1 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.8 F (2.3 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.1 F (2.6 F above century average)
#4. Clarke County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 66.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79 F (2.6 F above century average)
- #5 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.3 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 79 F (2.6 F above century average)
#3. Lee County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.3 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (3.1 F above century average)
- #4 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 52.3 F (2 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 76.4 F (3.1 F above century average)
#2. Leflore County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.7 F (2.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77 F (2.5 F above century average)
- #7 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 54.7 F (2.8 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 77 F (2.5 F above century average)
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#1. Newton County
- Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 65.9 degrees Fahrenheit (2.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
- #6 warmest year since 1895
- Recent average low: 53.4 F (2.4 F above century average)
- Recent average high: 78.3 F (2.7 F above century average)
