Autumn 2015 was record warm for the contiguous U.S.

U.S. climate highlights: November
Temperature

• Above-average November temperatures were widespread across the eastern half of the nation, where thirty-two states were much warmer than average. New Jersey had its warmest November on record with a statewide temperature of 49.7°F, 6.6°F above average.
• Below-average temperatures were observed across the West where Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah were each cooler than average.

Precipitation

• Above-average November precipitation was observed across much of the Great Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. Eleven states were much wetter than average in these regions. Arkansas and Missouri were record wet. The Arkansas precipitation total was 10.65 inches, 6.36 inches above average. The Missouri precipitation total was 7.86 inches, 4.95 inches above average.
• Below-average precipitation fell across the Northeast. New York and Vermont were much drier than average.
• According to the 1 December U.S. Drought Monitor report, 20.6 percent of the contiguous United States was in drought, down about 5.6 percent compared to the beginning of November. Drought conditions improved across parts of the Southern Plains and the Mid- to Lower Mississippi River Valley. Drought conditions also improved greatly across western Washington where an earnest start to the wet season brought much needed precipitation. Drought continues to plague interior regions of the Northwest and much of California and Nevada.

U.S. climate highlights: year-to-date (January-November
Temperature

• The year-to-date contiguous U.S average temperature was 55.8°F, 2.1°F above average, the fifth warmest on record. This was the warmest year-to-date since 2012. Above-average temperatures were observed in the West, Northern Plains, and Southeast. Overall, seventeen states, including Alaska, were much warmer than average. Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington were each record warm. Near-average temperatures were observed in the Midwest and Northeast.

Precipitation

• The year-to-date precipitation total for the contiguous United States was 30.48 inches, 2.89 inches above average, and the ninth wettest on record. Above-average precipitation was observed across the central and southeastern United States, where nine states were much wetter than average. Oklahoma had its wettest year-to-date with 48.00 inches of precipitation, 15.89 inches above average, besting the previous record of 47.12 inches set in 1908.
• Below-average precipitation was observed across the West and Northeast. California had the third driest January-November, Connecticut the fourth driest, and Oregon the fifth driest.

Extremes

• The USCEI for the year-to-date was 45 percent above average and the twelfth highest value on record. On the national scale, extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures, one-day precipitation totals, and days with rain were much above average.

— Read more in National Overview - November 2015 (NOAA, December 2015)