2010 In Three-Way Tie For Hottest Year On Record

It's official: 2010 is in a three-way tie with 1998 and 2005 for the globally hottest year on record. The U.N. weather agency released their final results on data analyzed from last year today, which "confirm the Earth's significant long-term warming trend," according to World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. This data set (global land and sea) is compiled from two U.S. sources (NASA and NCDC) and the UK Met Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit. Last year's global average temperature was 0.95 degrees Fahrenheit above the 1961-90 mean, with no significant statistical difference between 2010's average and those of 1998 and 2005.

In the U.S., we experienced our 23rd warmest year on record (for the contiguous states). You may remember Richmond International Airport recorded its most 100 degree days ever at 10 (7 in July, 3 in June).

In other news from this data, 2010 was the global wettest year on record, based on global average precipitation.