Hottest year so far for Philadelphia

The continental U.S. had its hottest average temperature in 118 years, according to federal researchers. Five of eight regions also set records (in red), while three others had their second or third highest average temperatures. The Pacific Northwest was also "above normal." (Click to view larger image.)

By Peter Mucha, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: October 13, 2012

2012 is on pace to be the warmest on record in more than 100 U.S. towns and cities, including Philadelphia, and for the continental United States as a whole, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Philadelphia has certainly seen some extremes in recent years. 2011 was Philadelphia's wettest year on record, with precipitation equalling 64.33 inches of water. The winter of 2009-10 had the most snow ever, 78.7 inches.

For the first nine months of 2012, Philadelphia's average temperature was 62.2 degrees, 3.5 degrees above the average during the two decades from 1981 to 2010. The city's record covers the last 65 years.

Also falling into the warmest-ever category were Allentown, Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, Atlantic City in New Jersey, and Wilmington in Delaware.

The data was also calculated by state. Over the last 118 years in Pennsylvania, this year's January-to-September period was the second warmest, behind only 1921.

In New Jersey and Delaware, the first nine months were the warmest during the same span.

Such findings might reinforce a growing public acceptance of the idea of global warming.

"A large and growing majority of Americans" - 74 percent, up 5 points since March - say "global warming is affecting weather in the United States," according to a Yale-George Mason University study, "Extreme Weather and Climate Change in the American Mind." (Go to http://bit.ly/R7dMKu.)

In a related study, the researchers found that about 80 percent of undecided and like Obama voters believe in global warming, while believers (45 percent) outnumber deniers (33 percent) even among likely voters for Mitt Romney, with 22 percent responding "don't know."

About two-thirds of undecided or likely Obama voters say that, assuming global warming is happening, humans are to blame. Half of likely Romney voters would see natural causes as the best explanation. (Go to http://bit.ly/QzT8CX.)

For more on the NOAA temperature report, go to http://1.usa.gov/OQQqxk.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.