Explore

USA TodayUSA Today
Atlantic hurricane season 2026 sets a new record

Atlantic hurricane season 2026 sets a new record

Not a single hurricane has formed in the Atlantic so far in 2026.
1Weather1Weather
El Niño Strengthens with Over 90% Chance of Very Strong Event in Late 2026

El Niño Strengthens with Over 90% Chance of Very Strong Event in Late 2026

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has reported a significant strengthening of El Niño conditions, with sea surface temperature anomalies exceeding +3.0°C (+5.4°F) in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The Niña-3.4 index reached +1.8°C (+3.2°F), while the Niña-1+2 index climbed to +3.4°C (+6.1°F). Subsurface temperatures are also significantly above average, with anomalies exceeding +10.0°C (+18°F) at depth. Low-level westerly wind anomalies and upper-level easterly wind anomalies are present from the western to east-central equatorial Pacific, accompanied by enhanced convection and rainfall in the central and eastern Pacific. The CPC projects a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026-27, with a 75% chance of a historic event exceeding the strength of previous El Niño events since 1950.
AP NewsAP News
Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino's might brings record slow storm season

Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino's might brings record slow storm season

The Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quiet this year due to a strong El Nino, which disrupts storm formation over that ocean
1Weather1Weather
Super El Niño Creates Atmospheric Hurricane Shield for the U.S.

Super El Niño Creates Atmospheric Hurricane Shield for the U.S.

A powerful Super El Niño is developing in the Pacific, significantly impacting global weather patterns. This phenomenon is creating an 'atmospheric hurricane shield' over the United States, reducing the likelihood of Atlantic hurricanes and U.S. landfalls. The El Niño event, characterized by rising air in the central and eastern Pacific and descending air in the western Pacific, is already showing strong effects, with sea surface temperature anomalies exceeding 7°C (12.6°F) above normal in some regions. This is expected to be one of the strongest El Niño events in over a century, with significant implications for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and the upcoming winter. The atmospheric conditions, including increased wind shear and drier air, are suppressing tropical storm activity in the Atlantic, keeping the hurricane season exceptionally quiet.
1Weather1Weather
Hottest Summer on Record for the U.S., NOAA Confirms

Hottest Summer on Record for the U.S., NOAA Confirms

The United States has experienced its hottest summer on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature for the meteorological summer (June–August) of 2026 was the warmest in the 132-year record, surpassing previous records set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4°F. July 2026 was particularly notable, with an average temperature of 76.9°F (24.9°C), which was 3.3°F above the 20th-century average. This made it not only the warmest July but also the warmest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States. Extreme heat waves were reported across the country, with temperatures reaching as high as 116°F (46.7°C) in Montana and over 1,000 daily heat records broken in the Southwest and Rockies. Events such as parades and fireworks were canceled in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic due to the dangerous heat levels.
1Weather1Weather
August 2026: Warmest Month on Record Globally

August 2026: Warmest Month on Record Globally

August 2026 has been confirmed as the warmest August on record globally, surpassing previous records set in 2023 and 2024 by 0.14°F (0.08°C). The global surface temperature was 2.38°F (1.32°C) above the 20th-century average, marking the 48th consecutive August with above-average temperatures. El Niño conditions contributed to record-high sea surface temperatures, particularly in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The Northern Hemisphere experienced its warmest summer, while the Southern Hemisphere had a near-record warm winter. Global tropical cyclone activity was above average, with 19 tropical storms, including Hurricane Lala, which brought hurricane-strength conditions to Hawaii's Big Island. Sea ice extent in both the Arctic and Antarctic was below average, with the global sea ice extent being the fourth smallest for August in the 48-year record. (Source: NOAA, 2026-09-10)
1Weather1Weather
NOAA Confirms 100% Chance of El Niño Through Early 2027

NOAA Confirms 100% Chance of El Niño Through Early 2027

NOAA has issued a forecast confirming a 100% chance of El Niño persisting through at least the December-February season, with a 75% likelihood of it becoming one of the strongest events on record by October-December. This certainty stems from the strong coupling between ocean and atmospheric systems observed in August, which creates a feedback loop that reinforces El Niño conditions. Surface waters in the tropical Pacific have shown significant warming, with anomalies exceeding +7.5°C (+13.5°F) in some areas compared to the long-term average. This warming drives increased evaporation, convection, and rainfall in the central Pacific, disrupting typical weather patterns globally. The impacts of El Niño are far-reaching, influencing hurricane activity, high-tide flooding, atmospheric rivers, salmon populations, coral bleaching, and snowfall in North America, among other phenomena. (Source: Climate.us, Source time: Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT)
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Tibetan Plateau Warming Linked to Devastating California Floods in 2017 and 2023

Tibetan Plateau Warming Linked to Devastating California Floods in 2017 and 2023

An international team of researchers, led by Yongkang Xue at the University of California, Los Angeles, has identified a potential remote trigger for the catastrophic California floods in early 2017 and 2023. These floods, which occurred during La Niña conditions typically associated with drier weather in California, caused billions of dollars in damage, mudslides, and forced thousands of evacuations. Using detailed computer simulations and decades of climate data, the team discovered that unusually warm weather on the Tibetan Plateau, thousands of miles away, could have initiated a chain of atmospheric events. When the Tibetan Plateau heats up, it triggers the breaking of planetary-scale atmospheric waves, known as Rossby waves, over the northeastern Pacific and the western coast of North America. This phenomenon, along with its impact on atmospheric rivers, can contribute to heavy rainfall in California. The simulations showed that including the unusual heating over Tibet in their models produced a signi...
1Weather1Weather
US Records Hottest Summer, Surpassing Dust Bowl Era

US Records Hottest Summer, Surpassing Dust Bowl Era

The United States has experienced its hottest summer on record, surpassing the infamous Dust Bowl summer of 1936. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature across the contiguous U.S. and Washington, D.C., from June to August 2026 was 74.4°F (23.56°C), breaking the previous record by 0.4°F. This summer also set a record for the highest nighttime lows, with 133 million Americans living in areas where at least 25% of nights were classified as 'extremely hot.' The heat was particularly severe in the western U.S., where states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah experienced their hottest summers on record, and Arizona tied its previous record. The data also revealed that four of the six hottest U.S. summers have occurred since 2021, highlighting the accelerating impact of climate change.
1Weather1Weather
2026 Marks Hottest U.S. Summer on Record

2026 Marks Hottest U.S. Summer on Record

The summer of 2026 has officially been declared the hottest on record for the contiguous United States (CONUS), according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Meteorological summer, spanning June through August, saw an average temperature of 74.4°F (23.6°C), surpassing previous records set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4°F (0.2°C). August 2026 was particularly extreme, with an average temperature of 75.6°F (24.2°C), 3.5°F (1.9°C) above the 20th-century average. Daytime highs averaged 88.6°F (31.4°C), marking the warmest August on record. The El Niño pattern contributed to elevated ocean temperatures, which also impacted global climate trends. Drought conditions expanded across 59.1% of the CONUS by September 1, while Hawaii experienced its second-wettest August due to Hurricane Lala.
1Weather1Weather
NOAA Confirms Hottest Summer on Record for the U.S., Indiana Among Warm States

NOAA Confirms Hottest Summer on Record for the U.S., Indiana Among Warm States

The United States experienced its hottest summer on record during the meteorological summer of 2026 (June–August), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 74.4°F (23.6°C), which is 3.0°F (1.7°C) above the historical average and 0.4°F (0.2°C) higher than the previous records set in 1936 and 2021. Indiana also experienced above-average temperatures, with an average of 73.1°F (22.8°C) for the summer, ranking it as the 26th hottest state. Additionally, Indiana and Ohio recorded their highest August precipitation levels on record, with central Indiana receiving over 11 inches of rain from August 11–17, causing the White River to reach its highest crest since 1913.
Palm Springs Desert SunPalm Springs Desert Sun
Historic El Niño could bring heavy winter storms

Historic El Niño could bring heavy winter storms

NOAA predicts a historic El Niño this winter, bringing higher chances of heavy rain and flooding to California.