By Patrick Kulp And Andrew Freedman

Federal data released Thursday confirmed what climate scientists had already widely suspected: California had by far its warmest year ever recorded in 2014.

In the midst of the state’s worst drought in more than 1,200 years, California saw annual average temperatures that were 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.3 degrees Celsius, higher than its 20th century average, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The 2014 annual average temperature shattered the state’s previous record set in 1934 by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

The data means that over the past five years, the state has experienced its warmest five-year period since instrumental temperature records began in 1895.

In 2013, California had its sixth-warmest year, and 2012 was its fourth, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center reported.

California average temperatures

The record warmth acted to intensify the crippling multiyear drought, which NOAA says has cost the economy more than $1 billion, since warmer temperatures enhanced evaporation. The drought has dried up lakes and reservoirs, depleted groundwater levels to a huge deficit and left some California communities without running water. With much of the state facing exceptional drought conditions, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in January of last year.

The state’s Palmer Drought Severity Index, which measures dryness using temperature and precipitation, showed all-time high levels of dryness in 2014 by a large margin, surpassing 2007’s previous record.

Last month, a study released by NOAA and Columbia University downplayed the role of global warming in triggering California’s drought. Other studies, however, have pointed to the unusual warmth as a critical factor in worsening the drought, and one that is likely linked in part to global warming.

The weather pattern throughout 2014 featured an unusually intense and persistent area of high pressure across the northeast Pacific, which helped divert storms away from California, and boost temperatures across the West. Some scientists suspect that global warming may be playing a role in influencing unusual weather patterns such as this one.

The western United States saw the most unusually warm weather of anywhere in the country in 2014 with Nevada, Arizona and Alaska also logging record high temperatures, according to the report. Nine western states had a top ten warmest year. The country as a whole, though, was cooler, with 2014 ranking as the 34th-warmest year in the U.S. since the start of records in 1895.

The year was a tale of two countries, as the West baked under record heat and withering drought, and the Midwest and East froze during the winter and remained cooler than average for much of the rest of the year. As of this week, about 54% of the West was facing a moderate drought or higher.

The above average temperatures make 2014 the U.S.’ 18th straight year with warmer than average conditions.

On a global scale, preliminary climate data so far has confirmed scientists’ predictions that 2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. The U.S., in fact, stands out as one of the few relatively cool regions.

IMAGE: The dry bed of the Stevens Creek Reservoir is seen on Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Cupertino, Calif. Lack of seasonal rain has meant water shortages for Californians this winter. IMAGE: MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS Palmer Drought Severity Index IMAGE: NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER

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