NOAA: September 2026 was second-warmest in the record since 1850
NOAA’s global summary put September surface temperature 1.33°C above the 20th-century average, second-highest in the 1850–2026 record, while global ocean-surface anomaly set a new monthly record.
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NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information reported that September 2026 was the second-warmest September in its 1850–2026 global record, with global surface temperature 1.33°C above the 20th-century average. Global ocean-surface temperature departure averaged 1.10°C above average, a record for any month and the fourth consecutive month with a record-warm ocean departure.
The report also counted 19 tropical cyclones worldwide during September, while sea-ice extent was below average in both polar regions. It attributes much of the central and eastern tropical Pacific warmth to persistent El Niño conditions. These are monthly climate indicators and reported anomalies relative to historical baselines; they do not by themselves attribute an individual storm or flood to climate change.
Data
Global cyclone count for September 2026
The count is NOAA’s global total of tropical cyclones for September 2026; it is not a country-specific event or attribution.
| Tropical cyclones formed globally | 19 | September 2026 global monthly count in NOAA’s climate summary. |
Methodology
Global September summary published by the National Centers for Environmental Information on 9 October 2026. Count follows NOAA text; temperature anomalies are not included in the table.
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- OceanSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: oceanwww.ncei.noaa.gov ↗
- Weather statisticSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: second-warmestwww.ncei.noaa.gov ↗