State Rankings Identify Warmest Decembers on Record Using NOAA Data
NOAA data show a decades-long warming trend that helps explain why many top December rankings now come from the 2020s.
Overview
- Stacker analyzed National Centers for Environmental Information records to rank each state’s warmest Decembers since 1895 by average monthly temperature.
- Each ranked month lists the statewide average temperature alongside monthly highs, lows, and total precipitation to provide comparable, month-scale snapshots.
- Texas leads with December 2021 as its hottest on record at 59.1°F, with December 2024 ranked second at 54.2°F, underscoring the prominence of recent years.
- Colorado’s top December is 1980 at 34.8°F, while 2021 and 2024 place second and third respectively, showing recent warmth high in the state’s rankings.
- Oregon’s warmest December is 1917 at 39.6°F and California’s is 1958 at 48.5°F, with both states also featuring 2023 and 2024 among their top entries.