News | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Photo of a road leading through the desert with the sun and mountains prominent in the background.

April 8, 2026

Updated April 8, 2026

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

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. in March was 50.85°F, 9.35°F above the 20th-century average, marking the first time any month’s average has exceeded 9°F above that baseline.

Significant snow blankets a street in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, following a powerful storm system that impacted all of Rhode Island on February 22–23, 2026. Credit: Joe Poccia, Rhode Island State Climate Office.

March 31, 2026

Rhode Island Receives New 24-Hour State Snowfall Record

New 24-hour snowfall record for Rhode Island on February 22–23, 2026.

High-resolution screenshot of the newly updated Coastal Relief Model Volume 8.

March 27, 2026

A Closer Look at the Pacific Northwest Coast

The Coastal Relief Model Volume 8, which models the United States’ Pacific Northwest region, has received a substantial update.

Harbor flooding near Pago Park, American Samoa with boats on top of submerged structures.

March 23, 2026

Staying One Step Ahead of Tsunamis

An explanation of the types of tsunami data that NCEI stewards, as well as its practical applications.

Amidst a snow-covered landscape sit rows of colorful Inuit houses in Nuuk, Greenland.

March 11, 2026

Assessing the Global Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in February 2026

February 2026 was Earth’s fifth-warmest February since records began in 1850, with a surface temperature 2.12°F (1.18°C) above the 20th-century average.

2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami destruction

March 11, 2021

Updated March 9, 2026

On This Day: 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan, generating a deadly tsunami.

Snowflakes accumulate on the side of a building during blizzard conditions caused by a late-February “bomb cyclone” in Boston, MA.

March 9, 2026

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

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. in February was 40.4°F, 6.6°F above the 20th-century average, ranking second warmest in the 132-year record.

Satellite image of a hurricane forming over the ocean.

March 2, 2026

Hurricane Intensity Dataset Updated based on feedback from industry partners

New Hurricane Intensity Dataset Updated based on feedback from industry partners is now live.

Glowing red heart-shaped walls inside the Antelope Slot Canyon in Page, Arizona, United States. (Credit: Gettyimages)

February 14, 2017

Updated February 12, 2026

The Heart of America’s February Climate

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we take a look at typical February climate conditions and Climate Normals for several heartwarming U.S. locations.

Green and purple aurora at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.

February 11, 2026

Assessing the Global Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in January 2026

January 2025 ranked as the fifth-warmest January in NOAA’s 177-year record, with a global surface temperature 2.02°F (1.12°C) higher than the 20th-century baseline.