"Once again, the temperature record has been shattered — 2024 was the hottest year since record keeping began in 1880."

The Lower 48 states had their hottest year on record in 2024, in keeping with global trends. Why it matters: The year featured numerous extreme weather events in which record warmth played a role — from the obvious,

NOAA has declared 2024 the warmest year on record for the US, with more than 300 million people experiencing a top-10 warmest year.

For much of central Appalachia, 2024 was a year marked by drought conditions followed by intense, catastrophic rain. For many places it was also the hottest year on record. Scientists say extremes like these are likely symptoms of a changing climate.