Maps and Graphics:


December Most Recent 3 Months Most Recent 6 Months
Most Recent 12 Months Annual Summary for 2005 US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.


For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for December, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.

National Overview:

December:

  • December temperatures were near average overall for the nation with below average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast and warmer than average conditions for the Southwest and parts of the northern Plains. For information on temperature records during the month, please go to NCDC's Extremes page.
  • Precipitation was near average for the contiguous US as a whole. Much below average to record low precipitation occurred across the southern US from Louisiana to Arizona, and much wetter than average conditions were present for much of the West. For more information on drought during December, please visit the U.S. Drought page.
For additional details, see the Monthly Highlights section. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe go to NCDC's Global Hazards page.

Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:


National:

For tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for December, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.
  • December 2005 ranked as the 45th coldest December in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 33.5°F (0.8°C), which was 0.0°F (0.0°C) different from the long-term mean.
  • December 2005 had near average precipitation, nationally, ranking 53rd driest.
  • For the last 3 months temperature was above average and ranked as the 16th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for October-December was 45.1°F (7.3°C) which was 1.5°F (0.8°C) above the long-term mean.
  • October-December had near average precipitation, ranking 52nd wettest in the last 111 years.
  • The January-December 2005 temperature was above average and ranked as the 13th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 54.0°F (12.2°C) which was 1.2°F (0.7°C) above the long-term mean.
  • Precipitation was near average for January-December, ranking 49th wettest for the last 12 months based on a record of 111 such periods.

Regional and Statewide:
  • December 2005 temperatures ranked below average for 18 states and above average for only 4 states, with an additional 2 states (CA and NV) much above average.
  • Alaska temperatures were much above average for December and ranked 6th warmest on record. The year was also much warmer than average ranking 6th warmest since statewide records began in 1918.
  • December was record dry for 2 states (AZ and AR), with an additional 4 states, which were in the top ten driest Decembers on record. December was wetter than average for 11 states and much wetter than average for an additional 4 states.
  • The 3 month period, October-December, was much warmer than average for 5 states.
  • October-December 2005 was record wet for 5 New England states, while 10 more states were much wetter than average. Five states were much drier than average and Arkansas was record dry for the 3-month period.
  • January-December 2005 was warmer or much warmer than average for much of the nation, with only 5 states in the contiguous U.S. near average.
  • The last 12 months had a mixed precipitation pattern across the country. There were 24 states that were wetter or much wetter than average, including 2 record wet states in New England, and there were 10 states that were drier or much drier than average.

    See NCDC's Monthly Extremes web-page for weather and climate records for the month of December.


It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly National Climate Report for December 2005, published online January 2006, retrieved on March 19, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/200512.