Question

maximum temperatures – above normal at many places in coastal areas.
1.was
2.is
3.were
4.have​

Answer 1

The word to be used in the blank is 'were'.

Maximum temperatures were above normal at many places in coastal areas.

* Singular subjects are followed by the singular verbs wherwas plural subjects are followed by the plural verbs.

* In the given sentence, the subject( temperatures) is in the plural form.

Therefore, we can use only the plural verb(were) in this case.

Another possible verb can be 'are'( present form of the plural verb).