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Since 1901, the average temperature across the contiguous U.S. states has grown at an average rate of 0.16°F (0.09°С) per decade. Average temperatures have grown more rapidly since the late 1970s (0.31 to 0.54°F or 0.17°С to 0.3°С per decade since 1979). Eight of the top ten hottest years on record for the contiguous U.S. states have happened since 1998, and 2012 and 2016 were the 2 warmest years on record. Over the following few decades (2021–2050), yearly average temperatures are supposed to grow by around 2.5°F (1.39°С) for the U.S., related to the recent past (average from 1976 – 2005), under all probable future climate scenarios.