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.

Assessing the Global Climate in January 2019

February 19, 2019

The global land and ocean temperature departure from average for January 2019 was third highest on record for the month of January.

Photo of Australian outback and sunset

U.S. Drought Monitor Update for February 12, 2019

February 14, 2019

According to the February 12 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers about 13.6% of the U.S.

Photo of beach in Puerto Rico with rain clouds

U.S. Drought Monitor Update for February 5, 2019

February 7, 2019

According to the February 5 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 13.6% of the United States.

Photo of dry agricultural hillside and green trees

Assessing the Global Climate in 2018

February 6, 2019

The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for 2018 was 1.42°F (0.79°C) above the 20th century average.

Panoramic photo of Iceland and Lighthouse

Assessing the U.S. Climate in 2018

February 6, 2019

According to the U.S. Climate Report, 2018 became the 22nd consecutive warmer-than-average year and was the 14th warmest on record.

Picture of sunset over lake

World Magnetic Model Out-of-Cycle Release

February 4, 2019

Due to changes in Earth’s magnetic field, NCEI has released an out-of-cycle World Magnetic Model to ensure safe navigation.

World Magnetic Model

U.S. Drought Monitor Update for January 29, 2019

January 31, 2019

According to the January 29 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 14.3% of the United States.

Photo of Saint Maries River in Idaho

U.S. Drought Monitor Update for December 18, 2018

December 20, 2018

According to the December 18 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 19.4% of the U.S.

Photo of Yellowstone National Park mountain and lake

Assessing the Global Climate in November

December 18, 2018

The global land and ocean temperature departure from average for November 2018 tied with 2004 and 2016 as the fifth highest for the month of November in the NOAA global temperature dataset record, which dates back to 1880. The September–November temperature was the second warmest period on record and the year-to-date global temperature was the fourth warmest period on record.

Photo of Iceland mountain landscape by Pixabay.com

U.S. Drought Monitor Update for December 11, 2018

December 13, 2018

According to the December 11 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 19.3% of the total U.S.

Photo: Credit ©Gary Kavanagh/iStock/Getty Images Plus