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Environment & Climate

El Niño and climate change prolong above-normal September temperatures across US

Forecasters expect unseasonable warmth through September following a historic summer, according to Wired.

The short version

  • US Climate Prediction Center forecasters project elevated odds of above-normal heat across much of the country through late September.[Wired]
  • Temperature models show conditions could run 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual in the second half of the month.[Wired]
  • The ongoing warmth follows a record-breaking summer driven primarily by climate change and a strong El Niño pattern.[Wired]

Key facts

  • US Climate Prediction Center forecasters project elevated odds for warmer-than-normal conditions through the end of September.[Wired]
  • Models suggest temperatures could exceed normal averages by 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit during late September.[Wired]
  • Weather stations recorded nearly 44,000 record daytime highs and over 53,000 record-high overnight minimums during the summer.[Wired]
  • Climate change is identified as the primary factor behind the ongoing extreme heat in the US.[Wired]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact magnitude of above-normal temperatures depends on model predictions estimating 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit above average.[Wired]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.