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2020 ranks as Earth's 2nd hottest year on record

2020 falls just behind 2016 for the hottest year on record for Earth.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) declares 2020 as the second-hottest year on record for the planet, just behind 2016.

Credit: Climate Central

The top 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2000.  Despite La Nina conditions during the second half of 2020, this past year still landed in the #2 spot right behind 2016.

Credit: Climate Central

The United States(Lower 48) ranks as the fifth warmest year on record according to the preliminary 2020 U.S. climate summary from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.  

The average temperature for the U.S. was 54.4 degrees Fahrenheit, 2.4 degrees above the 20th century average.  

Five of the warmest years on record have happened since 2012.

Now lets jump to the latest temperature results for Columbus, Ohio.

Credit: 10tv

After crunching the numbers, 2020 comes in at the 13th warmest year on record with an average temperature of 54.7  degrees.  Number one was back in 2012 with an average temperature of 56.5.  

While it wasn't in the top 10 for the warmest years on record, 7 of the top 20 warmest years on record occurred in the past decade.  

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