Report: 2013 wet, warm year for much of US
Last year was a wet, warm one for much of the United States.
Scientists say 2013 was the wettest year for the continental U.S. since 2009. The average rainfall totaled 31 inches, 2 inches above the previous century's average.
The average temperature of 52.4 degrees Fahrenheit also exceeded the previous century's average. Yet it was the coolest year since 2009, coming after the 2012 heat record-breaker.
The number of billion-dollar weather disasters in the continental U.S. last year totaled seven, including deadly tornadoes and flooding.
Scientists for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA (NO-uh), compiled the information. NOAA's National Climatic Data Center released the annual report Wednesday. Next week, the group will release its global report for last year.
More information: NOAA: www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/
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