The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projected that 2006 ended as the third-warmest year on record. The year is noted for widespread drought and record wildfires, as well as heavy precipitation and flooding in some parts of the United States. Following the warmest year on record for the globe in 2005, the annual global temperature for 2006 is expected to be sixth warmest since recordkeeping began in 1880.

NOAA scientists report that the 2006 annual average temperature for the contiguous United States (based on preliminary data) will likely be 2°F (1.1°C) above the 20th Century mean, which would make 2006 the third warmest year on record, slightly cooler than 1998 and 1934. Three months (January, April and July) were either warmest or second warmest on record, while only September and October were cooler than average.

The warmer than average conditions impacted residential energy demand for the U.S. in opposing ways as measured by the nation's Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index. Using this index, NOAA scientists determined that the nation's residential energy demand was approximately 9 percent less during the winter and 13 percent higher during the summer than that which would have occurred under average climate conditions.

The near-record warm summer was highlighted by a July heatwave that peaked during the last half of July. All-time records were set in a number of locations across the central and western U.S., breaking records that had stood for decades in many places.

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