The year 2008 tied with 2001 as the eighth warmest year on record for the Earth, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., The analysis was based on the combined average of worldwide land and ocean surface temperatures through December. December also ranked as the eighth warmest month globally, for the combined land and ocean surface temperature.
Overall, 2008 continued the cooling trend we have seen since 1998. 2008 was the wettest year on record for New Hampshire and Missouri, second wettest for Massachusetts, and third wettest for Connecticut, Illinois, and Iowa. 2008 was the fourth wettest year for Indiana, fifth wettest for Maine, Michigan, and Vermont, seventh wettest for New York, and eighth wettest for Kansas and Rhode Island.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Last year was the driest year since 1988 in the Twin Cities with 22.38 inches of precipitation. That amount was seven inches below the 1971-2000 average of 29.41 inches. 2008 turned out to be cooler than normal, with an average temperature of 44.47 degrees, which is about half a degree below the 1971-2000 normal. It was the coldest year since 1997.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee snowfall averages 47.0 inches, but in the 2007-2008 season, it recorded 99.1 inches of snowfall. Last season was the second snowiest season in the city's history. The first occurred during the 1885-1886 winter season and totaled 109.8 inches. Last year's average temperature was 47 degrees, a bit above the average annual temperature of 46.1 degrees.
St. Louis
The year 2008 will long be remembered as the wettest year on record for St. Louis. The city recorded 57.96 inches of precipitation, which was nearly three inches more than the previous record year of 1982. The St. Louis winter season produced about 24 inches of snow, which exceeds its annual average of 20 inches. The average temperature for 2008 was 54.7 degrees, about a degree cooler than the annual average of 55.5 degrees.
Kansas city
The average temperature last year was 52.7 degrees, a degree-and-a-half below the normal of 54.2 degrees. 2008 ranked as the eighth coldest year on record. The total precipitation for the year was 44.66 inches, or 6.68 inches above normal, making it the 20th wettest year on record. The total snowfall for the winter season was 24.1 inches, with the average calendar year snowfall of 21.4 inches.
Lincoln
Nebraska saw above normal precipitation in the north central part of the state and below normal precipitation along the southern border of the state. Average temperature in Lincoln in 2008 was 50.4 degrees, which was about a degree below normal. Total precipitation for last year was 34.9 inches, which was about seven inches above normal. The winter season brought 20.4 inches of snow, which fell about 5.5 inches short of the annual average for Lincoln, 26.1.
Overall, 2008 continued the cooling trend we have seen since 1998. 2008 was the wettest year on record for New Hampshire and Missouri, second wettest for Massachusetts, and third wettest for Connecticut, Illinois, and Iowa. 2008 was the fourth wettest year for Indiana, fifth wettest for Maine, Michigan, and Vermont, seventh wettest for New York, and eighth wettest for Kansas and Rhode Island.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Last year was the driest year since 1988 in the Twin Cities with 22.38 inches of precipitation. That amount was seven inches below the 1971-2000 average of 29.41 inches. 2008 turned out to be cooler than normal, with an average temperature of 44.47 degrees, which is about half a degree below the 1971-2000 normal. It was the coldest year since 1997.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee snowfall averages 47.0 inches, but in the 2007-2008 season, it recorded 99.1 inches of snowfall. Last season was the second snowiest season in the city's history. The first occurred during the 1885-1886 winter season and totaled 109.8 inches. Last year's average temperature was 47 degrees, a bit above the average annual temperature of 46.1 degrees.
St. Louis
The year 2008 will long be remembered as the wettest year on record for St. Louis. The city recorded 57.96 inches of precipitation, which was nearly three inches more than the previous record year of 1982. The St. Louis winter season produced about 24 inches of snow, which exceeds its annual average of 20 inches. The average temperature for 2008 was 54.7 degrees, about a degree cooler than the annual average of 55.5 degrees.
Kansas city
The average temperature last year was 52.7 degrees, a degree-and-a-half below the normal of 54.2 degrees. 2008 ranked as the eighth coldest year on record. The total precipitation for the year was 44.66 inches, or 6.68 inches above normal, making it the 20th wettest year on record. The total snowfall for the winter season was 24.1 inches, with the average calendar year snowfall of 21.4 inches.
Lincoln
Nebraska saw above normal precipitation in the north central part of the state and below normal precipitation along the southern border of the state. Average temperature in Lincoln in 2008 was 50.4 degrees, which was about a degree below normal. Total precipitation for last year was 34.9 inches, which was about seven inches above normal. The winter season brought 20.4 inches of snow, which fell about 5.5 inches short of the annual average for Lincoln, 26.1.
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