September 16, 2002
Globally averaged surface temperatures were the third warmest on record for June-August, based on preliminary data. The global land and ocean temperature was 0.85°F (0.47°C ) above the 1880-2001 long-term mean. Based on long-term data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) and preliminary data from the Climate Division Database, the U.S. nationally averaged temperature during summer (June-August) was also third warmest, or 73.9°F (23.3°C) which was 1.8°F (1.0°C) above the long-term mean. For September 2001-August 2002, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Delaware were warmest on record, while 6 states had record dryness during the last 12 months. Moderate to extreme drought encompassed about 48 percent of the contiguous United States by the end of August 2002.