2012 the hottest year on record for Northeast, US

The 12 months that ended July 31 was likewise the warmest such period in 117 years in the Northeast, and in all of the states except West Virginia -- where the average temperature of 54.7 degrees missed tying the record set in 1932 by 0.1 degree.

New maximum temperature records were set at many of the region's first-order stations during July as the mercury soared into the upper 90s and low 100s. The sensor at Washington's National Airport recorded 105 degrees on July 7, surpassing the record of 102 degrees set just two years ago. Baltimore's new record temperature of 104 degrees on the 18th broke the city's long-standing record of 102 degrees set in 1887.

Other notable weather data released by the NRCC:

• It was the seventh warmest July since 1895 in the Northeast. The average temperature was 72.8 degrees, which was 2.9 degrees above normal.

• Each of the 12 states in the region averaged warmer than normal, with departures that ranged from +1.5 degrees in Rhode Island to +4 degrees in Delaware.

• It was the second warmest July since 1895 in Delaware and the third warmest in Maryland.

• All 12 states in the region ranked within the top 24 warmest since recordkeeping began in 1895.

• With a regional precipitation total of 3.7 inches, the Northeast averaged 87 percent of normal in July. The year-to-date totals averaged 88 percent of normal in the Northeast.

• Three states, Pennsylvania, (107 percent), Rhode Island (116 percent) and West Virginia (125 percent) had totals that were wetter than normal.

• It was the driest January through June since 1895 in Delaware and the fifth driest in Maryland.