Global temperatures hit October record; 2026 expected to be second-warmest year on record
50th consecutive October above average
Global temperatures in October 2026 were 1.43°C above the 20th-century average. That set a new record, exceeding the previous October record from 2023 by 0.08°C. October temperatures have been above average for 50 consecutive years.
The average temperature over land was 2.08°C above average, making it the third-warmest October in the 177-year record, behind 2023 and 2024. By continent, Asia and Antarctica had their second-warmest October on record, while Africa and Europe had their third-warmest.
Global sea surface temperatures in October were 1.14°C above average, the highest monthly anomaly on record. The figure exceeded September’s record by a further 0.04°C, marking the fifth consecutive month with a new monthly record.
Record-high temperatures were particularly widespread across the central and eastern tropical Pacific, largely due to the ongoing strong El Niño.
Record number of tropical cyclones; activity high in the Pacific
There were 15 tropical storms worldwide in October, 12 of which reached typhoon or hurricane strength. Of those, 11 became major tropical cyclones of Category 3 or higher, both record highs for October.
In the Northeast Pacific, five of the six tropical storms strengthened into hurricanes, and all five became major tropical cyclones. In the Northwest Pacific, all five storms became major tropical cyclones, setting a new October record.
By contrast, only two storms formed in the Atlantic. Hurricane Isaias was the latest-forming hurricane on record in the satellite era.
- Sun, 15/11Max 14° Min 12°
- Mon, 16/11Max 20° Min 13°
- Tue, 17/11Max 14° Min 10°
- Wed, 18/11Max 17° Min 9°
- Thu, 19/11Max 18° Min 10°
- Fri, 20/11Max 17° Min 7°
- Sat, 21/11Max 17° Min 7°
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