This month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed what many people already knew – 2012 was the warmest year on record for the lower 48 contiguous states.

NOAA also reports that 2012 was the 10th driest year in Illinois since record keeping in the state began in 1895.

“(DeKalb County was) down 12.55 inches from normal (precipitation levels),” said Gilbert Sebenste, staff meteorologist at Northern Illinois University. DeKalb County received 24.24 inches of rain and melted snow last year – 34 percent less than the average of 36.79 inches.