A wetter-than-average March moderated drought in parts of the Central Plains, but severe to exceptional drought remained widespread in the West.
A panel of hurricane experts reviewed more than 90 research studies on the observed and projected changes in tropical cyclones for an updated summary of what the science says about the human influence on these devastating storms.
February 2021 was the United States' coldest February in 30 years, but the winter overall was warmer than average. Much of the West remained in some level of drought.
Polar vortex expert Amy Butler and Arctic expert James Overland offer perspectives on the February cold snap in the southern U.S., the polar vortex, and how the Arctic might influence mid-latitude weather.
Averaged across the land and ocean, January 2021 was the seventh-hottest January on record dating back to 1880.
Top-10 warmest January for contiguous U.S., Great Lakes ice cover well below average
Nationwide warmth was accompanied by extreme precipitation differences: dry conditions in the West and wet conditions in much of the East.
November 2020 was the second-warmest November on record, which increases 2020's chance of becoming the warmest year on record to over 50%.
The contiguous United States was warmer than average virtually coast to coast in November 2020, and much of the country was also drier than average.
The 15th installment of NOAA's Arctic Report Card NOAA's 15th Arctic Report Card catalogs the numerous ways that climate change continues to disrupt the polar region.