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News

There’s a lot going on at NCEI. Discover more about us and Earth’s climate, oceans, coasts, and geophysics in these featured news stories.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 1043

Aerial view of the Colorado River.

September 9, 2026

Monitoring the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation in August 2026

The average temperature for the CONUS in August was 75.6°F, 3.5°F above the 20th-century average, while the average for meteorological summer (June–August) was 74.4°F, 3.0°F above average.

Clouds over a blue sky and sunshine on the opposite side of the frame in the background with a cloud icon and up and down arrows in the middle of the image.

May 12, 2026

Updated September 3, 2026

Cloud Migration Offers Bright Future for NOAA’s Data

NCEI system upgrade is in progress to provide more modern, easier data access than ever before.

A horse ranch in Wisconsin. (Credit: Canva.com)

August 10, 2026

Updated August 12, 2026

Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation in July 2026

The average temperature for the CONUS in July was 76.9°F, 3.3°F above the 20th-century average.

Traditional wooden boats on a river in Bangladesh.

August 11, 2026

Assessing the Global Temperature and Precipitation in July 2026

Global surface temperatures in July 2026 were 2.12°F (1.18°C) above the 20th-century average, tying 2024 for the warmest July on record.

A bright red/orange band of unusually warm sea surface temperatures extends along the equatorial Pacific Ocean overlaid on a global map during 2016, one of the strongest El Niño events on record.

July 17, 2023

Updated July 16, 2026

ENSO Detection and Monitoring Depends on Data

El Niño and La Niña can bring significant disruption and shifts to global weather patterns; NCEI data help monitor and detect these patterns.

Photo of a tornado over buildings from the June 11, 2026 tornado outbreak near Streator, Illinois. (Credit: Andrew Lapinskas and the NWS)

July 9, 2026

Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in June 2026

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. in June was 70.6°F, 2.2°F above the 20th-century average.

Sunset overlooking the Weddell Sea with icebergs in the forefront.

July 9, 2026

Assessing the Global Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in June 2026

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.

Photo of a CTD device in the Gulf of Mexico from NOAA

June 15, 2017

Updated June 17, 2026

Tracking the Gulf Dead Zone

NOAA works to understand, predict, and ultimately reduce hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and its impacts to ecosystems and coastal communities.

On March 30, 2026, an image was taken of cows grazing in a dry field with dust rising around them. The photo was taken in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, on a farm.

June 11, 2026

Drought Defined: A Deep Dive into the U.S. Drought Monitor

How NOAA tracks dryness—gain a better understanding of the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Herd of sheep and goats grazing in the Thar desert, India. (Credit: Canva)

June 10, 2026

Assessing the Global Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in May 2026

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.