The country's 4th-warmest October caps its warmest first 10 months of the year on record

A top-five warmest October for the contiguous U.S. keeps the country on pace for its warmest year on record. October was also notable for several severe weather events that impacted the country. With less than two months to go in 2026, the year seems poised to finish as the country's warmest in the 132-year record. October continued to keep this year's torrid climate pace going, with the month ranking as the fourth-warmest October on record, coming in at nearly 5 degrees above the 20th-century average. The National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) latest monthly climate report for the contiguous U.S. revealed the average temperature for the country in October was 58.7 degrees, 4.6 degrees above the 20th-century average. The anomalously warm October marked the 21st month in a row with temperatures above the 20th-century average. October nights were especially warm Overnight low temperatures were particularly warm during the second month of meteorological fall.

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