The Lower 48 had its third warmest January-November period on record with an average temperature of 56.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.6 degrees above the 20th century average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its latest "State of the Climate" report released Dec. 11. Only January-November of 2012 and 2016 were warmer.
Above-average temperatures prevailed across the country in the year-to-date period, with Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia each having a record warm 11-month start to the year.

The year-to-date average daytime temperature was the fourth warmest since record-keeping began in 1895 at 68.3 degrees F, or 2.4 degrees above average. Average nighttime temperature for the same period was 44.5 degrees F, or 2.9 degrees above average, making it the second warmest behind 2016 in the 123-year period of record.
Temperature-related energy demand in the contiguous U.S. during the January-November period was record low, according to NOAA's Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index.
Meanwhile, autumn was the 10th warmest on record for the Lower 48, with an average temperature for the September-November period of 55.7 degrees F, or 2.1 degrees above average.
The season was warmer than normal for much of the country, save for the northern Rockies and northern High Plains. Extreme warmth was observed in the Southwest and New England, where Arizona, New Mexico, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire each had its warmest autumn in the 123-year period of record. NOAA attributes extreme autumn warmth in the Southwest to a warm November in the region and record warmth in New England to a warm October.

The average daytime temperature in autumn was 67.8 degrees F, or 2.0 degrees above average, tying 1954 as the 14th warmest on record. Average autumn nighttime temperature was the seventh warmest since record keeping began at 43.5 degrees F, or 2.2 degrees above average.
Based on the Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index, Lower 48 temperature-related energy demand in the September-November period was 66% below average and the fifth lowest on record.
In November, the nationally averaged temperature was 45.1 degrees F, or 3.4 degrees above average, ranking as the seventh warmest on record. November was much warmer than normal from the California coast into the Southwest, central Rockies and southern Plains, but near normal for most of the northern U.S. and along much of the East Coast. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah each had a record warm November.

The average daytime temperature in November was the 10th warmest on record and 3.5 degrees above average at 56.2 degrees F, while the average nighttime temperature was the 11th warmest and 3.4 degrees above average at 33.9 degrees F.
November temperature-related energy demand across the contiguous U.S. was 32% below average and the 23rd lowest in the period of record.
