The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says this September was the warmest in its 174-year record.
The climate report indicated that across the U.S., the month saw record heat, flooding rains, and tropical systems. Yet, the average temperature was recorded at 67.8 degrees. That’s 2.9 degrees above the 20th century average, according to the data that dates back more than 100 years ago.
Due to the higher temperatures and lack of rainfall, NOAA highlights that drought conditions persisted throughout the midwest, while a bomb cyclone brought above-average rainfall to the Pacific Northwest. The nation’s drought status is expected to improve with the predicted strong El Nino. Those impacted by floods in the western states face the threat of more disastrous flooding.
Year to date, the NCEI’s global annual temperature outlook and data through last month have scientists saying, “There’s a greater than 99% probability that 2023 will rank the warmest year on record.”
