Monitoring Global Temperature and Precipitation in September 2026

September 2026 marked the fourth consecutive month with record-warm global oceans

The global surface temperature in September 2026 was 2.39°F (1.33°C) above the 20th-century average—the second-warmest September in the 1850–2026 record, trailing behind the 2023 record by 0.13°F (0.07°C). It marked the 51st-consecutive September with global temperatures above the 20th-century average and all 10 of the warmest Septembers on record have occurred since 2015.

For a fourth-consecutive month, the global ocean surface temperature departure set a new record-high, averaging 1.98°F (1.10°C) above average for September. This value represents the highest ocean temperature departure for any month on record, edging out the previous all-time record set only last month, August 2026, by +0.04°F (+0.02°C). Ocean temperatures were record-high across an extensive swath of the central and eastern tropical Pacific (consistent with the ongoing El Niño conditions) as well as across parts of the Atlantic, Indian, and Southern oceans.

Global land surface temperature averaged 3.29°F (1.83°C) above average and was the third highest for September in the 177-year record, behind 2023 and 2024. Notable land temperature departures exceeding +3.6°F (+2.0°C) were observed across North America and parts of Europe, western Asia, Australia and western Antarctica. Record-high September temperatures were mainly present across parts of North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Below-average temperatures were limited primarily to Antarctica and portions of the Arctic, western North America, southern South America and southern Africa. However, no land or ocean areas experienced record-cold September temperatures.

September 2026 marked the warmest September on record for the Arctic region, North America and Asia. Oceania recorded its second-warmest September, while Europe and Oceania each experienced their fourth warmest and South America its sixth warmest. Antarctica registered a near-average temperature departure—its lowest September temperature departure since 2018.

Looking at the year-to-date, the January–September global surface temperature was the second highest on record behind 2024. According to our Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2026 will rank among the five-warmest years on record, with the highest probabilities favoring the second-warmest year on record.

Global sea ice extent was the third smallest for September in the 48-year record, covering 8.54 million square miles, which is 800,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. The Arctic had its 13th-lowest September extent on record, falling 300,000 square miles below average. Meanwhile, the Antarctic sea extent was 500,000 square miles below average and the third-smallest September extent.

Global tropical cyclone activity was above average in September 2026, producing 19 tropical storms, nine of which reached tropical cyclone strength and six attained major tropical cyclone intensity. The Atlantic basin experienced below-average activity with four tropical storms and no hurricanes—marking the first time in the satellite era that no hurricane formed prior to October.

Meanwhile, fueled by ongoing El Niño conditions, the Eastern North Pacific basin saw record-setting activity with eight tropical storms (tying 1994, 1997 and 2015 for the September record). Seven of those storms became hurricanes and five reached major hurricane status—both new September records for the basin. The most notable storm, Hurricane Polo, rapidly intensified to Category 5 strength, becoming the second-most intense Eastern North Pacific hurricane on record by pressure (behind 2015’s Hurricane Patricia). Polo made landfall in Baja California Sur as a Category 2 hurricane before striking mainland Mexico, delivering severe rainfall and flooding to parts of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest.

Elsewhere, activity was near average: the Western Pacific recorded six tropical storms (two typhoons, one major), while the North Indian Ocean logged one unnamed tropical storm that brought heavy rainfall and flooding to central-eastern India. No storms formed in the Southern Hemisphere, which is typical for the month.

For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our September 2026 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.