America’s new normal temperature is a degree hotter than it was just two decades ago.

Scientists have long talked about climate change — hotter temperatures, changes in rain and snowfall and more extreme weather — being the “new normal.” Data released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put hard figures on the cliche.

The new United States normal is not just hotter, but wetter in the eastern and central parts of the nation and considerably drier in the West than just a decade earlier.

Meteorologists calculate climate normals based on 30 years of data to limit the random swings of daily weather. It’s a standard set by the World Meteorological Organization. Every 10 years, NOAA updates normal for the country as a whole, states and cities — by year, month and season.

For the entire nation, the yearly normal temperature is now 53.3 degrees (11.8 degrees Celsius) based on weather station data from 1991 to 2020, nearly half a degree warmer than a decade ago. Twenty years ago, normal was 52.3 degrees (11.3 degrees Celsius) based on data from 1971 to 2000. The average U.S. temperature for the 20th century was 52 degrees (11.1 degrees Celsius).

The new normal annual U.S. temperature is 1.7 degrees (0.9 Celsius) hotter than the first normal calculated for 1901 to 1930.

“Almost every place in the U.S. has warmed from the 1981 to 2010 normal to the 1991 to 2020 normal,” said Michael Palecki, NOAA’s normals project manager.

Fargo, North Dakota, where the new normal is a tenth of a degree cooler than the old one, is an exception, but more than 90% of the U.S. has warmer normal temperatures now than 10 years ago, Palecki said.

In Chicago and Asheville, North Carolina, the new yearly normal temperature jumped 1.5 degrees in a decade. Seattle, Atlanta, Boston and Phoenix had their normal annual temperature rise by at least half a degree in the last decade.

Charlottesville, Virginia, saw the biggest jump in normal temperatures among 739 major weather stations. Other large changes were in California, Texas, Virginia, Indiana, Arizona, Oregon, Arkansas, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina and Alaska.

New normals are warmer because the burning of fossil fuels is making the last decade “a much hotter time period for much of the globe than the decades” before, said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald.

For Phoenix, the biggest change in normal came in precipitation. The normal annual rainfall for Phoenix dropped 10% down to 7.2 inches (18.2 centimeters). Rainfall in Los Angeles dropped 4.6%.

At the same time, Asheville saw a nearly 9% increase in rainfall, while New York City’s rainfall rose 6%. Seattle’s normal is 5% wetter than it used to be.

Climate scientists are split about how useful or misleading newly calculated normals are.

Mahowald and University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado said updating normal calculations helps city and regional planners to prepare for flooding and drought, farmers to decide what and when to plant, energy companies to meet changing demands and doctors to tackle public health issues arising from climate change.

But Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann said he prefers a constant baseline such as 1951 to 1980, which is what NASA uses. Adjusting normal every 10 years “perverts the meaning of ‘normal’ and ‘normalizes’ away climate change,” he said in an email.

North Carolina’s state climatologist Kathie Dello said, “It seems odd to still call them normals because 1991-2020 was anything but normal climate-wise.”

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(StatePoint) Do seasonal temperatures sometimes leave you frustrated with your home’s lack of insulation? Staying comfortable indoors is a top priority for most people, and luckily, it’s easy to ensure your home is an optimal temperature.

With a few quick tips and home defense strategies, you’ll be on your way to a more comfortable abode in just a few hours.

Why weatherize?

Preparing your home to combat temperature change is an important task for both homeowners and renters throughout the year. Feel uncomfortable drafts? Notice your heating and cooling equipment is continuously running? Are you tired of expensive energy bills? You’re not alone: almost two-thirds of American adults live in a home that needs to be weatherized, according to recent research conducted by Duck brand.

There are many motivations for weatherizing. In fact, did you know:

• 54 percent of people weatherize to save money on energy bills

• 44 percent weatherize to make the temperature of their home more comfortable

• 22 percent do it for greater energy efficiency

Is that a draft?

First, you’ll need to identify the source — or sources — of leaks. Don’t stress — it’s easy! Hold an incense stick near potential draft sources, such as windows and doors. If the smoke blows sideways, you’ll know an air leak exists, and it’s time to weatherize. But don’t stop there. Areas such as attic access openings, pull-down stairs, and exterior electrical sockets are additional, often overlooked sources of air leaks.

So, now what?

Once you’ve identified the leaks, it’s time to stop them. Window and door seals take a beating from normal wear-and-tear and can be a large source of drafts coming into the home. Replace old, cracked seals with such products as Duck Brand Heavy-Duty Weatherstrip Seals, which are made with durable, flexible material, allowing them to stand up against extreme temperatures that cause other seals to freeze or crack. They help to block cold winter air from entering, as well as dust, pollen, and insects during the warmer months.

For added protection with older windows, an easy-to-install, crystal-clear option like Duck Brand Roll-On Window Insulation Kits can create an additional barrier against cold air. The pre-taped top and easy roll-on film require no measuring, making installation painless. When applied to indoor window frames, the film provides an airtight seal that’s easily removed once warmer weather arrives.

Finally, address the hidden leaks with solutions like Duck Brand Socket Sealers Insulating Seals. Quick and easy to install, they fit behind outlets or light switch faceplate covers. When installed on exterior walls, they act as a buffer between the inside and outside air. Next, attic stairway covers protect against an often-uninsulated area, and offer a flexible, lightweight solution that can be repositioned to maintain direct access to the attic.

For more information on increasing home comfort, along with easy-to-follow weatherization installation videos, visit duckbrand.com/weatherization.

With a few key home projects anyone can complete, you can make your home more enjoyable all year long and save on energy bills in the process.

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Search: Home Weatherization 101

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When you wake up in the morning and you long for that energy beverage or coffee know that the sugar and caffeine are instantly going to start dehydrating your system, so chase those drinks with twice the amount of water in order to keep your body fresh and hydrated. Contrary to popular belief, ICE COLD WATER IS NOT THE ANSWER! Room temperature or lightly chilled is, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to process it, if it is near your current body temperature. If you are starting to get light headed or dizzy, TAKE A BREAK! No need to be a hero, once you succumb to heat sickness it is easier and easier to get it in the future, so if your body is telling you that enough is enough, listen to it.

Buddy System: USE IT! If you are going to go out and work make sure someone knows what you are doing, keep handing each other water as the day goes on, and constantly make sure you are checking on each other. Dip a bandana in water and wrap it around your neck to simulate sweat and wear a nice shaded brim hat.

It is going to be a hot one this year so if your air conditioning on your house doesn’t work the city offers several “cool off points” for you to go to, leave all the windows open at your house, fans on to force circulation, and spend the day at the library.

Heat Stroke and Heat Sickness are two different things, you need to be able to recognize what is happening to you so you can prevent any serious illness. For Heat Sickness you may feel dizzy or faint, you will be sweating profusely, your skin will look pale and clammy, you could experience some nausea, or muscle cramps. If this is the case get some room temperature water and sit down in the shade until you feel better, cold fruit is also a good option. If you have a throbbing headache and have stopped sweating it is possible you are having a heat stroke, immediately stop what you are doing and call for help, heat stroke is very serious and you can potentially lose consciousness. In this summer heat it is better to be safe than sorry.

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