The globe had its second-warmest June on record, driven by global ocean surface temperatures reaching an all-time high for the month.
Both the Arctic and Antarctic recorded June sea ice extents that ranked among their respective 10 lowest extents on record.
Global tropical cyclone activity was above average with seven named storms.
Map of global notable weather and climate events in June 2026.
Temperature
Global surface temperatures in June 2026 were 1.96°F (1.09°C) above the 20th-century average—the second-warmest June on record, trailing only 2024. Notably, all 10 of the warmest Junes in the 1850–2026 record have occurred since 2015. This month also marked the 50th-consecutive June with a global temperature departure above the 20th-century average; the most recent below-average globally-averaged June temperature occurred in 1976. Global ocean temperature was the highest on record for the month, while global land temperatures came in at fourth highest on record.
Global Temperature Percentiles for June 2026. Red and orange indicates warmer than average, blue indicates colder than average and gray indicates that it tied with more than 10% of the record.
Widespread, warmer-than-average conditions dominated across much of the globe in June 2026. Notable temperature departures of +3.6°F (+2.0°C) or higher spanned Europe, eastern Australia, parts of Africa, the Arctic, the Weddell Sea, a vast swath of Siberia extending into south-central Asia and along the equator in the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, record-high June temperatures were shattered across the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean, as well as portions of Canada, northern South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and across parts of every major ocean basin.
Below-average temperatures were observed across much of Antarctica, as well as portions of South America, Asia, and northwestern Alaska and along its adjacent Arctic waters. Despite these cooler pockets, no land or ocean areas experienced record-cold temperatures for the month of June.
Regionally, several continents and regions recorded a top 10 warm June on record. The Arctic had its warmest June on record, while North America, Europe, and Africa each recorded their second warmest. Oceania observed its third-warmest June, and Asia recorded its fourth warmest. Although South America also experienced above-average June temperatures, it fell short of a top 10 ranking. Meanwhile, Antarctica noted a cooler-than-average month, marking its coolest June since 2021.
Year-to-date
Looking at the year-to-date, the January–June global surface temperature was third highest on record. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2026 will rank among the five-warmest years on record.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was the fourth smallest for June in the 48-year record, covering 8.78 million square miles, which is 780,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The Arctic had its third-lowest June extent on record, falling 340,000 square miles below average. Meanwhile, the Antarctic sea extent was 440,000 square miles below average and the sixth-smallest June extent.
Map of the Antarctic (left) and the Arctic (right) sea ice extent in June 2026.
Tropical Cyclones
Global tropical cyclone activity was above average in June, featuring seven named storms. Of these systems, two reached tropical cyclone strength, with one intensifying into a major tropical cyclone. The storms developed across three primary basins: Atlantic (one), the East Pacific (three), and the West Pacific (three).
In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm (TS) Arthur—a weak and short-lived storm— formed off the coast of Texas, bringing gusty winds and heavy rain to parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast.
In the East Pacific, TS Boris and TS Cristina developed within a day of each other off the coasts of Mexico and Central America, respectively, bringing heavy rainfall and windy conditions to both regions. Meanwhile, the West Pacific produced the month’s most notable system: Super Typhoon Mekkhala. Peaking as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon, Mekkhala brought heavy rain, gusty winds, and storm surge to parts of the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.
No tropical cyclones developed in the North Indian Ocean or any Southern Hemisphere basins during June 2026.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our June 2026 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
Cracked dirt, dying crops, boat docks out of water and dry, dusty streambeds. For many communities in the U.S., drought impacts are becoming ever-present and increasingly dire.
It didn’t get that way overnight, though. During long stretches of sunny weather with blue skies overhead, the last thing on your mind is probably drought. Drought often creeps in quietly, without the visual cues that accompany severe storms or other extreme weather, but its impacts can be just as, if not more, devastating than any storm.
Luckily, NOAA and its partners track drought and dryness with the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). The USDM is a vital public resource that is used by policymakers, researchers, and the public to monitor drought conditions. It assists with drought mitigation efforts and determines eligibility for farmers and ranchers who need federal disaster assistance.
The Map…the Drought…the Legend. What is the USDM?
The USDM produces a map every Thursday that shows the location and intensity of drought across the U.S. and its territories. Because drought affects different people in different ways, it is often said that “drought is defined by those it impacts”. For instance, a farmer’s experience of drought will look very different from that of a water supply manager or a homeowner watering their home garden. As a result, the USDM captures multiple types of drought on a single map.
Map from the June 9, 2026, U.S. Drought Monitor .
To account for these different perspectives, experts categorize drought into several distinct types:
Meteorological Drought is determined by a lack of precipitation and how conditions like temperature and winds affect moisture levels. It is region-specific and expressed in relation to a region’s average historical conditions.
Agricultural Drought focuses on precipitation shortages, soil moisture deficits, and evaporative demand, and its severity depends heavily on soil properties, plant types and stages of plant growth.
Hydrological Drought refers to the effects of rain and snow shortfalls on streamflow, groundwater, and reservoir or lake levels. Because it takes longer for precipitation deficiencies to show up in larger hydrological systems, this type of drought is often “lagging” behind other types of drought. (i.e., the 2003 Pathfinder Reservoir shortage).
Ecological Drought occurs when prolonged/widespread shortages in naturally available water supplies create multiple cascading stresses across ecosystems (i.e., ponds drying up and impacting cattle).
Socio-economic Drought describes the impact of drought on the broader economy related to supply and demand. While it includes agricultural products, it also affects hydroelectric energy generation, tourism, public health and infrastructure.
Snow Drought is a period of abnormally low seasonal snowpack due to lack of precipitation or unusually warm temperatures, which causes precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow or causes the accumulated snowpack to melt unusually early. In many mountainous regions, especially the western U.S., snowpack acts as a vital “natural reservoir”. It stores water during the winter and slowly releases it as snowmelt during the drier spring and summer months, affecting both human and natural systems.
The USDM Categories and What They Mean
The map is categorized into five classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), which is not a drought category but indicates areas either heading into or recovering from drought, followed by Moderate Drought (D1), Severe Drought (D2), Extreme Drought (D3), and Exceptional Drought (D4).
A graphic titled, “U.S. Drought Monitor Categories: What They Mean”.At the bottom there’s bulleted explanations of each drought category: DO – Abnormally Dry, D1 – Moderate Drought, D2 – Severe Drought, D3 – Extreme Drought and D-4 – Exceptional Drought. Users can filter by state to gain information about your region: https://www.drought.gov/impacts#impacts-table
To standardize this mountain of complex data, the USDM categorizes drought using a historical percentile ranking system. A percentile is a simple way to measure how rare an event is by comparing current conditions to a 100-year historical record. For example, Hurricane Helene was considered a 1-in-1000 year event for Asheville, North Carolina.
Dryness/Drought Intensity Categories:
D0 (Abnormally Dry): 21st to 30th percentile. This means conditions are among the driest 21 to 30 years out of 100. It is not technically a drought yet, but rather an early warning sign that an area is drying out, or a sign that an area is recovering from drought but still has lingering deficits.
D1 (Moderate Drought): 11th to 20th percentile. This represents a 1-in-5 to 1-in-10-year drought event. In this first official stage of drought, regions typically experience some damage to crops and pastures. Streams, reservoirs or wells may run low, meaning water shortages are developing or imminent.
D2 (Severe Drought): 6th to 10th percentile. This is a rarer 1-in-10 to 1-in-20-year drought event. As conditions worsen, crop or pasture loss becomes likely. Water shortages become common across the affected area.
D3 (Extreme Drought): 3rd to 5th percentile. This level of dryness is only expected 3 to 5 times every 100 years. At this intense level, agriculture experiences major crop and pasture losses. Communities face widespread water shortages.
D4 (Exceptional Drought): 0 to 2nd percentile. This is the most severe USDM category. For the everyday person, this means the current dryness is a historic, 1-in-50-year (or rarer) event. When a region reaches D4, it signals catastrophic, landscape-altering impacts, widespread crop and pasture losses, and severe water emergencies.
Current Impacts
As of April 2026, the Western U.S. experienced its lowest snowpack on record. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming set new record-low April 1 snow-water equivalent (SWE) values.
As of June 2026, a late season storm system brought heavy rainfall to southern Oregon and northern California, sparking a few modest improvements but overall doing little to change the current drought depiction. Some degradations were noted across portions of California, Oregon, and the Great Basin, where impacts from a lack of snowmelt recharge—especially low stream flows—are beginning to be felt.
Alt text: Map from the June 9, 2026, U.S. Drought Monitor of the West region.
According to the June 21, 2026, USDM, drought signals across much of the southern U.S. remained mixed in regions where long-term deficits continued to persist. Significant water supply concerns continued in southern Georgia and throughout Florida. Reservoirs and lakes that were drawn down substantially over the past year are recovering more slowly than other drought indicators. In the Southeast, water supply concerns and fire danger remain significant, particularly in Florida. Lake Okeechobee remains low, continuing to lose more water than it receives. In the Plains, impacts have primarily affected winter wheat and forage production, and areas that have remained dry continue to experience elevated fire danger. The most significant change occurred in Minnesota, where the cumulative effects of multiple dry years have affected much of the northern portion of the state, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Moderate drought expanded, and severe drought was introduced.
Outlook
Over 60% of the continental U.S. was in drought (D1–D4) as of May 26, making it one of the more extensive drought periods on record (33rd highest among 1,378 weeks since 2000).
Map of the “U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook, Drought Tendency During the Valid Period” for June 2026”.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the monthly outlook for June indicates that some regions are benefiting from recent rainfall, but large portions of the country remain vulnerable to prolonged dry conditions and associated impacts on agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. The most serious drought concerns are in the West, Rockies, and parts of the Plains, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, where drought is expected to continue or intensify, while drought is expected to develop in parts of the Midwest. These regions face the greatest risk of continued water shortages, agricultural stress, reduced streamflow, and ecosystem impacts because drought conditions are not expected to improve significantly.
Partners
Established in 1999, the USDM is produced through a joint partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Meteorologists and climatologists from these agencies serve rotating, two-week shifts as the drought map’s lead author. The author’s primary role is to provide the critical human element that automated models cannot replicate: synthesizing complex—and sometimes conflicting—datasets to create a cohesive and accurate assessment of national drought conditions.
May was the second-warmest on record for the globe.
The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent tracked slightly below average for May, driven by lower-than-normal extent in Eurasia.
Both poles had a top-10 low sea ice extent, with the Arctic recording its second-smallest extent on record for a third consecutive month.
Only two named storms formed globally, resulting in below-average tropical cyclone activity.
Map of global notable weather and climate events in May 2026.
Temperature
May 2026 ranked as the second-warmest May on record, trailing only 2024, with a global surface temperature 1.93°F (1.07°C) above the 20th-century average. Notably, all 10 of the warmest Mays in the 1850–2026 record have occurred since 2016. This month also marked the 50th-consecutive May with a global temperature departure above the 20th-century average; the most recent below-average May occurred in 1976. Globally, ocean temperatures ranked second warmest for the month, while land temperatures came in at fifth warmest.
Global Temperature Percentiles for May 2026. Red and orange indicates warmer than average, blue indicates colder than average and gray indicates that it tied with more than 10% of the record.
During May 2026, above-average temperatures spanned most global land and ocean surfaces. Notable temperature departures of at least +3.6°F (+2.0°C) were observed across parts of the Arctic, much of Antarctica, central Canada and the northwest contiguous U.S., western Russia, much of western Asia and parts of the North Pacific Ocean. Record-high May temperatures were mainly present across the central Pacific, southern Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans, alongside localized land areas in Africa and eastern Asia.
Below-average temperatures covered much of Alaska, south-central South America, portions of the Middle East, northwestern Russia, western Australia and eastern Antarctica. Record-cold May temperatures were confined to a small area in the South Pacific Ocean.
Regionally, several continents experienced top-10 warmest Mays on record: Africa had its fourth-warmest, Asia had its fifth-warmest, Europe was ninth-warmest and North America had its 10th-warmest May. While South America, Oceania, Antarctica and the Arctic also experienced above-average May temperatures, they did not rank among their top 10.
Seasonal
Globally, the average surface temperature from March–May 2026 was the third highest in NOAA’s 177-year record. During this three-month period, the Northern Hemisphere experienced its fifth-warmest meteorological spring, while the Southern Hemisphere tied with 2024 for its warmest meteorological autumn.
Year-to-date
Looking at the year-to-date, the January–May global surface temperature was fourth highest on record. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2026 will rank among the five warmest years on record.
Snow Cover
The Northern Hemisphere’s May 2026 snow cover extent was slightly below average, tracking a 130,000 square miles deficit. This was primarily driven by Eurasia, which sat 150,000 square miles below normal but did not rank among its top-10 lowest extents. Meanwhile, North America and Greenland had a near average May extent. Regional deficits were observed across the U.S. Rocky Mountains, parts of northern Canada, western and southern Alaska, Scandinavia, northern and central Russia and northwestern China. In contrast, above-average extent was confined to eastern Alaska, southern Canada, southern China and eastern Russia.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was the fourth smallest for May in the 48-year record, covering 8.29 million square miles, which is 670,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The global deficit was primarily driven by the Arctic, which had its second-lowest May extent on record for a third consecutive month, falling 310,000 square miles below average. Meanwhile, the Antarctic sea extent was 370,000 square miles below average and the ninth-smallest May extent.
Map of the Antarctic (left) and the Arctic (right) sea ice extent in May 2026.
Tropical Cyclones
Global tropical cyclone activity was below average in May, producing just two named storms—both of which formed in the West Pacific basin. Of those two, only one reached typhoon intensity, and neither achieved major status. The stronger system, Typhoon Jangmi, peaked as a Category-1 equivalent storm. While it never made landfall, it still brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of Japan.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our May 2026 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
Widespread spring warmth: More than half of the states experienced a spring (March–May) that ranked among their three warmest in the 132-year record, with Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas each recording their warmest spring on record. Meanwhile, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania each ranked in the coldest third of their records for May.
Dry start to the year: Despite regions of above-average precipitation, the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) recorded its sixth-driest January–May on record and its driest since 1988.
Drought remained widespread: Although drought conditions improved across parts of the South, more than half of the CONUS remained in drought at the beginning of June.
Hawaiʻi experienced its wettest spring: The island chain observed its wettest spring in the 36-year record, receiving more than double its average spring precipitation.
Cold spring in Alaska: Alaska experienced its coldest spring since 2013, at 2.2°F below its 1925–2000 average, contrasting with the widespread warmth across the CONUS.
Map of the U.S. notable weather and climate events in May 2026.
Other Highlights:
Temperature
The CONUS average temperature during May was 61.7°F, 1.5°F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 132-year record. Much of the western third of the CONUS experienced above-average temperatures, with portions of the Northwest recording much-above-average warmth. In contrast, areas east of the Plains saw mostly near- or below-average temperatures, with the notable exception of the southern Florida Peninsula, which experienced one of its warmest Mays on record. Statewide, Oregon tied its fifth-warmest May and Washington ranked seventh warmest, while Florida tied its sixth-warmest May on record. Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania each ranked in the coldest third of their records for May.
May 2026 U.S. Mean Temperature Percentiles Map.
For meteorological spring (March–May), the average temperature across the CONUS was 55.8°F, 4.9°F above the 20th-century average, ranking as the second-warmest spring on record and the warmest since 2012. Except for portions of the northern tier, most of the CONUS experienced much-above-average spring temperatures. All CONUS states experienced above-average temperatures, including 20 states that averaged at least 5°F above their 20th-century mean. Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas each recorded their warmest spring on record, with Arizona and New Mexico exceeding their previous records by more than 1°F.
Across Alaska, the average temperature in May was 38.4°F, 0.6°F above the 1925–2000 average, ranking in the middle third of the 102-year record. For spring as a whole, Alaska’s average temperature was 21.8°F, 2.2°F below average, ranking in the coolest third of the record and the coldest spring since 2013.
Hawaiʻi’s average temperature for May was 66.5°F, 0.3°F above the 1991–2020 average, ranking in the middle third of the 36-year record. For spring, Hawaiʻi tied its third-warmest spring on record with an average temperature of 65.9°F, 1.1°F above average. The island chain also recorded its warmest average spring minimum temperature on record, at 2.3°F above average.
Precipitation
Total precipitation averaged across the CONUS during May was 2.86 inches, 0.05 inch below the 20th-century average, ranking in the middle third of the 132-year record. The month was characterized by drier-than-average conditions across much of the interior West and Rockies, as well as portions of the Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. In contrast, above-average precipitation fell across portions of the Gulf Coast, Deep South, Southeast, Ohio Valley and Northeast. Statewide, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan each received about half of their average May precipitation and ranked among their 10 driest Mays on record. Meanwhile, several southern states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, received more than 160% of their average May precipitation.
May 2026 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles.
For spring (March–May), the CONUS precipitation total was 7.43 inches, 0.50 inch below average, ranking in the driest third of the 132-year record. Despite the deficits observed in May, parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes recorded much-above-average spring precipitation, with Michigan experiencing its wettest spring on record. In contrast, much of the West, Southwest and Rockies, along with western portions of the Plains, experienced a particularly dry spring. Parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic also recorded much-below-average March–May precipitation, including North Carolina and Delaware, which each had their third-driest spring on record.
Alaska’s average May precipitation was 3.03 inches, 0.92 inch above the 1925–2000 average, ranking as the fifth-wettest May in the 102-year record. For spring, precipitation was near average across the state, ranking in the middle third of the record.
Hawaiʻi experienced an exceptionally wet May, receiving 6.09 inches of precipitation—2.01 inches above the 1991–2020 average—and ranking in the wettest third of the 36-year record. This contributed to a historic spring (March–May) total of 34.42 inches—18.48 inches above average (215.9% of average)—and the wettest spring on record for the island chain.
Drought
According to the June 2 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 58.4% of the CONUS was in drought, a decrease of about 3.3% from the end of April. Drought persisted over much of the western interior, Rockies and Plains, and expanded or intensified in parts of the Northwest, Southwest, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, while improving over portions of the southern and central Plains. Parts of the South, Southeast and Northeast saw substantial drought contraction or improvement, though drought remained widespread across the southeast Atlantic coastal region.
Monthly Outlook
Above-average June temperatures are favored across the western and northern U.S., with the highest probabilities over parts of the Northwest and the northern Rockies and Plains. Above-average temperatures are also favored across the Florida Peninsula and portions of eastern Alaska, while below-average temperatures are favored for the Alaska Peninsula. Below-average precipitation is favored across the Northwest and Great Lakes region, while above-average precipitation is favored for parts of the Southwest and Southeast. Visit the Climate Prediction Center’s Official 30-Day Forecasts for more details.
Drought is expected to persist and expand across much of the Northwest and portions of the Southwest and northern Rockies and Plains, with development likely in parts of the Midwest. Although drought is expected to persist from portions of the southern Plains to the lower Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, some improvement is anticipated across parts of the central and southern Plains, as well as much of the Southeast. Visit the U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook website for more details.
Significant wildland fire potential for June is above normal across portions of the West, as well as parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. For additional information on wildland fire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s One-Month Wildland Fire Outlook.
For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive May 2026 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on June 11, 2026. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is now providing a new dataset tailored to the specific needs of architects and engineers. Called the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) product, this dataset was developed in response to feedback from architects and engineers in need of “typical” weather data to inform building and infrastructure design.
What is TMY?
The TMY product provides location-specific meteorological data that represents a “typical” year for a given site, helping architects and engineers understand historical weather patterns while planning for the future.
To do this, TMY selects the most representative version of each month based on long-term climate data and then uses those months to create one “typical” calendar year that reflects realistic day-to-day and seasonal weather patterns. Along with historical observations, TMY incorporates future projections by adjusting historical records with modeled climate scenarios through 2100.
TMY includes data for all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with downloadable formats such as CSV and EnergyPlus Weather files. Key climate variables include:
Temperature – to optimize insulation, heating and cooling needs
Solar radiation – to guide window placement and energy-efficient design
Wind speed – to select durable materials and design natural ventilation
Precipitation – to plan roof slopes, drainage and water management
“Typical” Vs. “Normal”
Unlike the U.S. Climate Normals, which describe long-term average conditions over a fixed 30-year period and serve as a standard reference for what is normal for a region, TMY is designed to represent a single “typical year” of weather that preserves realistic day-to-day sequences for a given location. While Climate Normals are mainly used to understand general climate patterns and compare conditions over time, TMY is used more for building design and energy modeling where a continuous, realistic year of weather is needed.
A Collaborative Development with Industries
The TMY product was shaped through ongoing engagement with architecture and engineering professionals, including the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Architects. Feedback from these users helped NCEI refine the interface, determine the most useful variables, and provide data in novel formats that support easy integration into design and modeling tools.
By integrating historical data and future climate projections through 2100, TMY enables professionals to anticipate how changing weather conditions may affect buildings and infrastructure, helping communities stay safer and allowing architects to design critical structures such as hospitals, schools, bridges and stormwater systems that can handle weather impacts more effectively.
Turning Data into Action
To make TMY easy to access and use, NCEI designed an interactive, point-and-click web interface and made the data available for download in multiple format types. Users can customize the output calculation and use the information in modeling tools to support informed, risk-aware decision-making.
Through improving access to and the functionality of NOAA’s environmental data products and services, NCEI is helping professionals turn information into action for a future with safer communities and a stronger, more resilient economy. To learn more about the TMY product and to access the data, visit the TMY product page. More information on NCEI’s impact on U.S. industries, including an architecture and engineering hub that links to featured products, is available on NCEI’s Our Impact page.
Every day, people depend upon NOAA data in ways they don’t even think about. From building better homes to the products you see on store shelves, NOAA data helps drive our scientific research, resource management and economy. Now that information will be easier to access than ever as NOAA NCEI moves its data to the cloud!
What can you expect from this modernization effort? We answer your questions below:
First things first. What is NOAA NCEI?
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) houses one of the largest collections of environmental data in the world. More specifically, NCEI archives over 229 terabytes of data each month from more than 130 observing platforms. This provides an ever-expanding repository of atmospheric, oceanic, geophysical and climate data used daily by researchers, emergency managers, businesses and communities across the U.S. and the globe.
When is the data being moved to the cloud?
In one of the largest undertakings in its history, NCEI will migrate all of its data, products, and services to the cloud over the next 10 months. Data and applications housed in servers at locations in Asheville, North Carolina and Boulder, Colorado, will be migrated (moved) to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud. During the migration, data will still be accessible via normal access locations and methods. Once the migration is complete, you will continue to access the data via the NCEI website.
Why is the data being moved to the cloud?
Fully-cloud based datasets will make it easier and faster to test and release new products for customers and industry. This will enable NCEI, one of the pillars of the Department of Commerce, considered “America’s Data Agency,” to lead in the global digital economy.
It is extremely time consuming and resource intensive to download NOAA’s largest datasets from physical servers for every use. Cloud-based data means no download is necessary—data is available on-demand, which is key for artificial intelligence and machine learning uses.
The transition away from relying solely on physical servers to preserve data and science products will mean vital information is more secure and protected. The move to the cloud will also necessitate the use of virtual servers rather than physical ones, because even top-of-the-line computer hardware eventually wears out and fails. Virtual servers are much easier to upgrade and maintain to keep pace with the latest technology, providing the best possible service.
Through the entire migration process, NCEI will continue its legacy of impeccable data stewardship and gold standard science. Benefits of the migration will include more modern and optimized public access. This is especially true for large datasets and artificial intelligence applications.
How does the migration work?
The NCEI cloud migration will use a process known as “lift and shift”. NCEI’s data, products and services will be “lifted” from their current location in on-premise servers and “shifted” directly to the AWS cloud. Teams that include NCEI experts will then ensure that all of the critical products customers rely on are functioning, and the integrity of the data is maintained.
Immediately upon completion of the “lift and shift,” NCEI will enter immediately into a “modernization and optimization” phase, integrating seamlessly into the NESDIS Cloud System and Common Cloud Framework. This will allow NCEI to effectively leverage NESDIS common data services, resulting in both better and more efficient data service to the public.
Will I notice the migration happening?
Preserving the integrity of the data, products and services NCEI provides for the nation is the key goal of the migration. Occasional and temporary data delays may occur throughout the 10-month process, but users will be notified with as much advance notice as possible. Keep an eye on the NCEI home page and product pages for notifications.
I use NCEI data frequently. Where can I get more information?
If you need more technical information about the cloud migration and its potential impacts, please see individual product pages or our in-depth Frequently Asked Questions page.
Will every dataset and application experience interruptions?
No, if there are interruptions in services, specific website banners will be posted.
Will any datasets be retired as part of the cloud migration?
No, no datasets will be retired as part of the cloud migration.
How will data access work once the “lift and shift” is complete?
Data access systems are expected to be significantly more stable, with outages largely being a thing of the past. Data is also expected to be available and delivered more quickly.
Will any datasets and applications change during migration?
The content of the datasets and applications will not be changed. However, some older data and applications will be modernized to a new, more user-friendly format.
Will data formats change?
Data formats will not change through the transition to the cloud. Cloud formats like Zarr, Parquest, GeoJSON, etc. will become increasingly available for NCEI products.
Will how I access data change?
No. Access points for data, web applications, and services will remain the same. We will be decommissioning legacy NCEI Domain Name Services (DNS) for www.ncdc.noaa.gov, www.ngdc.noaa.gov, and www.nodc.noaa.gov in favor of www.ncei.noaa.gov. This change should not affect users.
The Northern Hemisphere had a below-average snow cover extent, driven by deficits in Eurasia.
Both poles experienced below-average sea ice extent, with the Arctic having its second-smallest April extent on record.
Global tropical cyclone activity was near average with four named storms.
Map of global notable weather and climate anomalies and events in April 2026.
Temperature
April 2026 ranked as the fourth-warmest April on record, trailing only 2024, 2025 and 2020, with a global surface temperature 2.02°F (1.12°C) above the 20th-century average. Notably, all 10 of the warmest Aprils in the 1850–2026 record have occurred since 2016. This month also marked the 50th-consecutive April with a global temperature departure above the 20th-century average; the most recent below-average April occurred in 1976. Globally, ocean temperatures ranked second-warmest for the month, while land temperatures came in at seventh-warmest.
Global Temperature Percentiles for April 2026. Red and orange indicates warmer than average, blue indicates colder than average and gray indicates that it tied with more than 10% of the record.
During April 2026, above-average temperatures spanned most global land and ocean surfaces. Notable temperature departures of at least +3.6°F (+2.0°C) were observed across the Arctic, Antarctica, the southern and eastern contiguous U.S., the North Pacific Ocean, and portions of Europe, Asia, eastern Africa and southwestern Australia. Record-high April temperatures were mainly present across the Pacific, Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans, alongside localized land areas in the contiguous U.S, Europe, Asia, Africa and Antarctica.
Below-average temperatures covered much of Canada, Africa, eastern Europe, and northern Australia, along with parts of South America, Russia, the Middle East and Antarctica. Record-cold April temperatures were confined to a small region in the South Pacific Ocean.
Regionally, several continents experienced a top-10 warmest April on record: Asia had its seventh-warmest, Antarctica had its eighth-warmest and Oceania tied for its ninth-warmest April. While North America, South America, Europe, Africa and the Arctic also experienced above-average April temperatures, they did not rank among their top 10. Year-to-date
Looking at the year-to-date, the January–April global surface temperature was the fifth highest on record. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2026 will rank among the five warmest years on record.
Snow Cover
In April 2026, the Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent was below average, driven primarily by the deficits in Eurasia. Eurasia recorded its eighth-lowest extent on record, at 460,000 square miles below average. The most pronounced snow deficits occurred across the western contiguous U.S., and stretched from northern Europe through western Russia, Mongolia, and northwestern China. In contrast, North America and Greenland experienced a slightly above-average snow cover, at 140,000 square miles above average.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was the fifth smallest for April in the 48-year record, covering 7.63 million square miles, which is 590,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The global deficit was primarily driven by the Arctic, which had its second-lowest April extent on record, falling 290,000 square miles below average. Meanwhile, the Antarctic sea extent was 300,000 square miles below average and the 11th-smallest April extent.
Map of the Antarctic (left) and the Arctic (right) sea ice extent in April 2026.
Tropical Cyclones
In April 2026, global tropical cyclone activity was near average with four named storms. All four intensified into tropical cyclones and three of those reached major tropical cyclone strength. The storms formed in each of the West Pacific, South Indian, Australian and South Pacific basins.
Notably, Super Typhoon Sinlaku in the West Pacific became a rare, early-season Category 5-equivalent storm—one of only 10 on record to reach that intensity in the basin prior to May. Additionally, Tropical Cyclone Vaianu peaked as a Category 3-equivalent storm, making it the South Pacific’s first major cyclone since 2023. As is typical for April, no storms formed in the North Atlantic, East Pacific or North Indian basins.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our April 2026 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
Warm April across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS): The CONUS experienced its third-warmest April on record, with record-warm average temperatures observed across more than 700 counties and affecting more than 50 million people.
Historic year-long warmth: The last 12 months (May 2025–April 2026) were warmer than any other 12-month period on record for the CONUS.
Midwest precipitation record: The Upper Midwest climate region experienced its wettest April on record, receiving approximately twice its average precipitation.
Widespread and intense drought: Severe to exceptional drought covered over 40% of the CONUS, with the Southeast experiencing its greatest extent on record.
Map of the U.S. notable weather and climate events in April 2026.
Other Highlights:
Temperature
The average temperature over the CONUS in April was 54.79°F, 3.75°F above average, ranking as the third-warmest April in the 132-year record and the warmest since 2006. April marked the 15th consecutive month (February 2025–April 2026) with CONUS temperatures above the 20th-century average.
April 2026 U.S. Mean Temperature Percentiles Map.
Above-average temperatures covered much of the CONUS in April, with below- to near-average conditions mostly confined to portions of the northern tier from the northern Rockies to the Minnesota Arrowhead. Widespread much-above-average to record-warm conditions spanned the central and eastern U.S., from the southern and central Plains through the Ohio Valley and Lower Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.
Based on NOAA climate region averages, the Ohio Valley experienced its warmest April on record. Eight states set statewide April temperature records: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. Notably, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia each broke long-standing April records set in 1896 by more than 1°F and exceeded their 20th-century April averages by more than 8°F. An additional 16 states ranked among their 10 warmest Aprils on record (24 states total). In contrast, North and South Dakota were the only states with April temperatures below the 20th-century average.
The average temperature for Alaska was 26.2°F, 2.9°F above the 1925–2000 average, ranking in the middle third of the 102-year record. In Hawai‘i, the average temperature was 66.1°F, 1.4°F above the 1991–2020 average, tied for the second-warmest April in the 36-year record.
For the year to date, the CONUS experienced an exceptionally warm start. January–April temperatures averaged 44.8°F, 5.7°F above average, the warmest such period in the 132-year record. Ten states matched or exceeded their previous January–April temperature records. In contrast, Alaska statewide average temperature was 2.3°F below average, ranking in the coolest third of the 102-year record.
Precipitation
Total precipitation averaged across the CONUS in April was 2.69 inches, 0.17 inch above the 20th-century average, ranking in the middle third of the 132-year record. Despite the near-average April total, the CONUS observed a notably dry start to the year; January–April precipitation totaled 7.49 inches—1.98 inches below average (79% of average)—ranking as the second-driest January–April on record.
April 2026 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles.
During April, above-average precipitation fell across parts of the West and Northwest, as well as a broad corridor extending from southern Texas through the middle Mississippi Valley into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Conversely, western portions of the Plains and much of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic received below-average precipitation.
A sharp contrast in precipitation was evident across the U.S. Wisconsin and Michigan each recorded their wettest April on record, and the Upper Midwest climate region observed its wettest April, receiving approximately twice its average precipitation. The region also observed its second-highest January–April precipitation total on record.
In contrast, the Southeast climate region had its driest April in 40 years, receiving roughly half of its average precipitation. Six Atlantic coastal states—from Georgia to Delaware—ranked among their ten driest Aprils. The region also recorded its driest January–April on record, with precipitation below 60 percent of average, contributing to widespread drought conditions across the Southeast.
Precipitation was generally above average across much of Alaska, with below-average conditions mostly confined to parts of the Panhandle, while statewide totals ranked in the middle third of the record.
Hawai‘i recorded 6.06 inches of precipitation in April, 1.05 inches above the 1991–2020 average, ranking in the wettest third of the record, continuing a recent pattern of above-average precipitation. The island chain experienced its wettest start to the year in the 36-year record, with January–April precipitation totaling 41.50 inches—19.43 inches above average.
Drought
According to the April 28 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 61.7% of the CONUS was in drought, an increase of about 1.8% from the end of March. Severe to exceptional drought (D2–D4) covered 43.8% of the CONUS, the largest extent since August 2012.
Drought conditions persisted, expanded or intensified during April across much of the interior West and western portions of the central and southern Plains, the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. In contrast, drought contracted or decreased in intensity across eastern portions of the central and southern Plains, the middle Mississippi Valley, upper Midwest and the Great Lakes.
Notably, the Southeast experienced its most extensive drought on record in April, with 99.8% of the region in drought on the April 21 U.S. Drought Monitor map—the highest coverage in the record dating to 2000 and well above the previous maximum of 86.2% in August 2007. The Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) for the Southeast exceeded 350 for the first time on record, with nearly 60% of the region in extreme to exceptional drought (D3–D4).
Monthly Outlook
Above-average May temperatures are forecast across much of the western CONUS and parts of the Southeast, with the highest probabilities over the Northwest, while below-average temperatures are favored across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Below-average precipitation is favored across much of the Northwest, northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with above-normal precipitation expected across parts of the Southwest, southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. Visit the Climate Prediction Center’s Official 30-Day Forecasts for more details.
Drought is expected to persist across much of the western CONUS in May, with further expansion likely in parts of the Northwest, northern Rockies and Plains. While much of the Southeast drought is expected to persist, improvement is likely across portions of the southern Plains and Deep South, as well as parts of the far Northeast. Visit the U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook website for more details.
Significant wildland fire potential for May is above normal across parts of the Southwest and northern Plains as well as the southeastern coastal region, from the central Gulf to Mid-Atlantic. For additional information on wildland fire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s One-Month Wildland Fire Outlook.
For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive April 2026U.S. Climate Reportscheduled for release on May 13, 2026. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit theClimate at a GlanceandNational Mapswebpages.
The new Advanced Dvorak Technique–Hurricane Satellite (ADT-HURSAT) dataset is available! The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison/Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (UW/CIMSS) began developing the updated ADT-HURSAT in fall 2024 with the goal of supporting industries and scientific communities that rely on hurricane (also known as tropical cyclones) records.
What is ADT-HURSAT?
The ADT-HURSAT dataset provides standardized information about storm intensity across time and geography, making it useful for long-term historical analysis going back to 1978. Understanding past impacts can help industries and communities with future risk assessment and preparedness to protect homes, avoid disrupted supply chains, keep businesses open, and strengthen local and national economies. Previously updated in 2019, NCEI has now extended the Hurricane Satellite (HURSAT) dataset through 2024, and CIMSS applied the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) to estimate storm strength from satellite images. This method identifies the strength of a storm by determining the shape and size based on radar imagery.
Collaborative Development with Industries
Feedback from several U.S. industries helped shape the ADT-HURSAT dataset and its tools as part of the NCEI industry partnership program. This collaboration supports proactive efforts that protect lives, property, and jobs in communities across the nation. Along with NOAA’s broader suite of environmental information products and services, the ADT-HURSAT dataset offers reliable weather and climate data that organizations can use to understand storm risks, plan logistics, allocate resources, and strengthen infrastructure ahead of hurricanes and other severe storms. These insights support a wide range of industry, public, and scientific applications, including:
Businesses, researchers, and the public can study hurricane trends, better understand storm impacts, and inform planning and preparedness efforts. Reliable long-term data supports scientific research, helps communities plan infrastructure and emergency response strategies, and improves awareness of risks.
Retailers can analyze past storm data and their effects on shipping routes and logistics to incorporate insights into supply chain management. By learning from previous storms, retailers can maintain product availability, minimize delays, and better allocate resources during severe weather events. Emergency management teams can also reduce risk to storefronts and warehouses, protecting employees, customers, and inventory while helping communities maintain access to essential goods and recover faster after storms.
Insurers and reinsurers can improve catastrophe models and better identify high-risk regions by analyzing hurricane intensity and behavior records. Clearer risk insights help guide homeowners and businesses toward appropriate insurance coverage and damage mitigation measures such as fortified buildings and improved flood protection.
Turning Data into Action
To make ADT-HURSAT data easier to access and use, even for people without specialized tools or years of technical experience, NCEI’s industry partnership program developed a user-friendly web interface with direct download capabilities and example use cases that show how the information can be applied. A tutorial written in Python, a programming language commonly used for data analysis, is also available to help users access and work with the information. Further improving accessibility, the dataset is stored in a NOAA cloud bucket, an online storage space that allows people to access and download data over the internet. By delivering dependable weather insights, NOAA supports weather-resilient communities, economic stability, and long-term disaster preparedness nationwide. For more information and access to the ADT-HURSAT dataset, visit the product page. To learn more about how NOAA data supports U.S. industries and the economy, visit NCEI’s Our Impact page.