The Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) dataset includes temperature records back to 1854. Monthly mean SSTs in 2008 in four subregions (Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, and the Middle Atlantic Bight) were compared to long term means bounded by confidence bands (magenta line in light magenta region, respectively).  In 2008, monthly SSTs for the Gulf of Maine were close to the long-term average in most months, with the most notable exception being the July and August SSTs, which were well above average. The duration of summer warming increased in the southern segments of the ecosystem, with above average SSTs observed in the Middle Atlantic Bight subregion from June to September. The Bight also had below average SSTs in November and December 2008, unlike areas to the north.