U.S. had above-normal temperatures in 2000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Although the United States is ending this year with colder-than-normal temperatures, the nation logged above-average temperatures for most of the year, government forecasters said on Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average annual U.S. temperature for the year 2000 was projected at between 54.1 and 54.2 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the average of 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit logged since 1895.

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"Although colder than normal temperatures have affected much of the U.S. recently, the trend to warmer temperatures which began more than a century ago continues," NOAA said in a statement.

U.S. temperatures have risen at a rate of 0.9 degree Fahrenheit per century over the past 100 years. But within the past 25 years, U.S. temperatures increased at a rate of 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit, NOAA said.

During the past year, heat waves and drought covered much of the southern and western states while the Midwest and northeastern U.S. experienced prolonged periods of cooler and wetter than normal conditions.

July 2000 was the coolest such month on record in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the second coolest in New York, NOAA said. The summer months also brought above-average rainfall in 15 states throughout the Northeast and Midwest.

Losses from drought, wildfires

Meanwhile, states in the Deep South endured a third straight summer of below-normal precipitation. The driest May through October on record occurred in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, causing billions of dollars worth of drought losses.

By August 36 percent of the nation was classified as having severe to extreme drought, though rainfall in recent months significantly eased dry conditions in many areas, NOAA said.

The drought also made for one of the worst U.S. wildfire seasons in 50 years. More than 7 million acres of forests and grasslands were consumed by fire in 2000 with nationwide losses of more than $1 billion.

Tornadoes down, hurricanes up

NOAA also said there were fewer tornadoes in 2000 than average. That compares to the average of 38 annual violent tornadoes logged during the past half-century.

But there were more tropical storms and hurricanes than usual, the government forecasters said.

In 2000 there were 14 named tropical storms, eight of which became hurricanes with three reaching major hurricane strength. On average, nine named storms form in the Atlantic with seven growing to hurricane strength and two into major hurricanes.

Government weather data shows there has been greater hurricane activity over the past six years after more than two decades of generally below-average activity.

Global temperatures, rain increased

Satellite weather data collected by NOAA showed average global surface temperatures were also much warmer than normal in 2000.

The global temperature was expected to be 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit above average recorded since 1880, similar to temperatures recorded in 1999. The only years warmer were 1998, 1997, 1995, and 1990.

The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1983, NOAA said. During the past century, global temperatures rose at a rate near 1.1 degree Fahrenheit, but this trend "dramatically" increased to a rate greater than 3.0 Fahrenheit per century during the past 25 years, NOAA said.

Global rainfall was also above-average in 2000.

NOAA estimated 2000 would end as one of the ten wettest years on record.

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