Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 2hDespite the persistent Beaufort Sea ice earlier in the summer, there were some pretty large departures by September. This pattern of negative anomalies is very consistent with years since the mid-2000s. + Blog on this past summer: zacklabe.com/climate-viz-... + Graphic: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 03913
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 10hHappy October 1st and start to spooky season (though for me, that begins in September 👻). It's my favorite time of year, so I thought I would kick it off with something pretty scary! 36912
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 30/09/2026Wednesday El Niño update - The explanation for why SSTs are still at record high levels in the Niño 3.4 region is because of both climate change + El Niño. Far-reaching ENSO teleconnections are more dependent on temperature gradients, & relative SSTs are actually more similar to other strong events. 19527
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 30/09/2026Temperature anomalies across the #Arctic over the last 12 months... Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis. 03111
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 29/09/2026The extent of global sea ice has been the 3rd lowest on record for the date (satellite-era) over the last couple of weeks. This was especially due to unusually low ice cover in the Antarctic. More graphics at zacklabe.com/global-sea-i... 07024
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 29/09/2026Latest 'cloud-free' mosaic from MODIS satellite imagery observing this year's minimum #Arctic sea ice extent... Imagery from ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/cgi-bin/getp... 16421
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 28/09/2026Check out the total extent of the ocean warmth from last month... Data from NOAA OISSTv2.1 🌊 29438
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 28/09/2026Trends in September temperatures over land areas for the last 50 years... note some of the regional hotspots in the darker red shading Data from www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan... 18037
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 28/09/2026Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 16th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 320,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 720,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,890,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,590,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 06211
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 28/09/2026Comparing monthly average temperature anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere versus the Southern Hemisphere through August 2026 (record warm). The climate change trend in all months of the year can be visualized through the blue to red gradient. Data available via @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5. 010132
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 27/09/2026The last three months are the warmest on record globally, relative to every other June-July-August period since 1850. Data from NOAA/NCEI's NOAAGlobalTempv6.1.0. 9435212
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 27/09/2026Last month showed unusually warm sea surface temperatures across much of the #Arctic Ocean, especially in the Kara Sea, Baffin Bay, & Labrador Sea. There's been an interesting contrast in ocean temperature departures across the East Siberian Sea, as well as some lingering ice Data: NOAA OISSTv2.1 🌊 05714
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 26/09/2026Good morning! Monthly climate change indicator update time... 🫣 + Global temperature: 📈 + Carbon dioxide (CO₂): 📈 + Methane (CH₄): 📈 + Nitrous oxide (N₂O): 📈 Download at zacklabe.com/climate-chan... 515164
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 25/09/2026Quick oceans update: yah, sea surface temperatures remain in new territory this year. See more at zacklabe.com/climate-chan.... This data (extrapolar ocean) is provided by @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5. 🌊 2246112
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 25/09/2026Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 16th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 280,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 770,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,920,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,640,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 0399
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 25/09/2026All latitude bands outside of the Antarctic saw above average temperatures over the last 3 months. The tropical warming is notable, which is partly associated with El Niño. [Plot shows zonal-mean surface air temperature anomalies, where latitude = y-axis (not scaled by distance). Data: GISTEMPv4] 19031
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 24/09/2026The first nor'easter of the season will bring big impacts to coastal areas around the Northeast this weekend. Learn more in www.climatecentral.org/climate-shif... "Human-caused climate change is also contributing to rising sea levels and exacerbating flooding outlooks along the East Coast. " 522583
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 24/09/2026Large portions of the #Arctic Ocean are getting wetter in the month of September. The largest trends are found in the Barents-Kara Seas and toward eastern Greenland. + Data from GPCP: psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded... + More info: doi.org/10.25923/11n... 16425
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 24/09/2026The global mean temperature over the last 3 months was record warm (June-July-August). We don't truly experience the global mean of course, so here's a look at those departures regionally around the world... 🟥 warmer than average 🟦 colder than average Dataset described in doi.org/10.1175/BAMS... 59939
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/09/2026🚨 It's official - 2026 observed the 10th lowest annual minimum #Arctic sea ice extent (statistical tie). My next climate viz blog will focus on this past summer season. This minimum was set 2 days earlier than average. For more information: @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/sea-ice-toda... 27919
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/09/2026Wednesday El Niño update - Unsurprisingly, sea surface temperatures still remain record warm across the central Pacific. But when discussing headlines like the “strongest” El Niño, it’s an oversimplification to ignore the role of long-term tropical warming (from climate change). Data: OISSTv2.1 🌊 110844
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/09/2026"As August came to a close, nearly 8.3 million acres had burned across the U.S., setting a year-to-date record. This isn’t particularly surprising." ➡️ Read our latest monthly state of the climate report: www.climatecentral.org/climate-brie.... Download and share more global/US climate visuals too. 16225
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/09/2026Watch the changes in 100 years of changing June-July-August temperature anomalies over land areas through 2026 (second highest on record)... Data from NOAAGlobalTemp v6.1.0: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan... 411359
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 22/09/2026Happy September equinox 2026! Enjoy your week! 🌞 Understanding seasons - graphic shows the incoming solar radiation around the two equinoxes (sun passes over the equator)... Download this visualization at zacklabe.com/arctic-clima... 725773
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 22/09/2026Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 14th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 180,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 910,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 2,030,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,730,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 07022
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 21/09/2026Temperature departures averaged over the last month (left), 3 months (center), and 12 months (right) across the Northern Hemisphere... Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis. 26915
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 19/09/2026The average global temperature so far this year (for the January-August period) is now up to the 2nd warmest on record since the start of this dataset... This data is using NOAAGlobalTempv6.1.0: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan... 112450
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 18/09/2026Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 13th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 190,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 930,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 2,050,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,750,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 05313
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 18/09/2026The latest observations of monthly-averaged greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O)... Access the data at gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/ 313375
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 17/09/2026Trends in September #Arctic sea ice thickness over approximately the last four decades (yes, that shows thinning everywhere)... Data from PIOMAS. For more information: doi.org/10.1175/JCLI... 06726
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 17/09/202647 years of average annual sea ice thickness across the #Arctic... 🌊❄️🥼 Graphic now available to include 2025 at: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 47327
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 17/09/2026Watch the changes in 100 years of average January-August temperature anomalies over land areas through 2026... Data from NOAAGlobalTemp v6.1.0: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan... 713471
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 16/09/2026Maps of temperature departures averaged over the last month (left), 3 months (center), and 12 months (right) across the #Arctic... Data from doi.org/10.24381/cds... 07222
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 16/09/2026Sea surface temperatures in the key Niño 3.4 region have been at record highs since early June (climate change plus El Niño), now more than 1°C above the 1997 record this week! 😬 Bring your El Niño questions and more to our free webinar tomorrow (sign up): climatecentral-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi... 318590
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 16/09/2026Last month saw a very large temperature anomaly gradient between the Weddell Sea region and West #Antarctica. In fact, this was one of the very few places anywhere on the globe with colder than average temperatures in August, especially compared to older baselines (e.g., 1951-1980). Data from ERA5. 47718
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 15/09/2026Temperatures across the Tropics set another monthly record in August 2026. The long-term warming trend is also very clear for all times of the year (i.e., human-caused climate change), which leads to growing heat stress impact concerns. Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis. 522485
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 15/09/2026Here are the latest monthly-averaged observations of global methane (CH₄; a potent greenhouse gas)... May 2026 - 1939.4 ppb May 2025 - 1933.2 ppb + Data: gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends_... + More info on trends: doi.org/10.1126/scie... 37636
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 15/09/2026Simulated reconstruction of September #Arctic sea ice thickness since 1901. Large interannual variability and widespread thinning in recent years. Information about this data set is available at doi.org/10.1175/JCLI... 07022
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 15/09/2026August was an extraordinary month, and we're just getting started. "Record-warm temperatures spanned 13.2% of the global surface, setting an all-time August record & ranking third-highest for any month since 1951, behind May 2024 (14.3%) and April 2024 (13.9%)." (www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monit...) 38423
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 14/09/2026Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 10th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 90,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 1,030,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 2,100,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,780,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 06518
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 14/09/2026The warmth over western Siberia extending into the Kara Sea basin has been very persistent this summer, with temperature anomalies easily more than 5°C above the 1981-2010 average. This is one of the fast changing parts of the #Arctic during the boreal summer season. Data from ERA5 reanalysis. 717082
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 14/09/2026Warming isn’t just confined to the surface, but extends deep into the ocean as well. The impacts of this rapid change are vast, affecting everything from the base of the marine food chain to the global economy, while also reshaping our physical climate system. www.climatecentral.org/climate-brie... 210330
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 13/09/2026Another year full of climate extremes... Did you know the last 100 days have all set new daily records for global sea surface temperatures? Learn more about our rapidly warming oceans in our webinar this week, & bring your questions! 📣 Register in advance: climatecentral-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi... 251041532
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 13/09/2026Signal from El Niño is starting to reveal itself when comparing monthly temperature departures across latitude bands, with a larger relative contribution to mean warming. [Plot shows zonal-mean surface air temperature anomalies, where latitude = y-axis (not scaled by distance). Data: GISTEMPv4.] 614235
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 13/09/2026Evolution of August #Arctic sea ice and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies during the satellite-era... A summary of last month can be found from @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/sea-ice-toda... *SST data set (OISSTv2.1) is only available since about 1982 06122
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 12/09/2026According to data from NOAA, this summer (June-July-August) was the warmest on record for the #Arctic region. The largest departures were found across parts of western Siberia, with the record warmth extending into the Kara Sea basin toward Severnaya Zemlya. 313246
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 12/09/2026The textbook fingerprint of El Niño is now visible in last month's sea surface temperature anomalies. El Niño is not a storm, but a natural pattern of climate variability. This redistribution of heat can influence weather worldwide, but is still hard to clearly disentangle. Data from OISSTv2.1 🌊 818758
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 11/09/2026Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 11th lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 130,000 km² above the 2010s mean • about 1,000,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 2,050,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,720,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 15617
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 11/09/2026After a very slow start to the melt season in the Beaufort Sea, lower concentration ice gave way quickly to large departures in this region. Laptev Sea ice has also been persistent this year. + Concentration = fraction of sea ice + Another August view at zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i... 04617
Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 11/09/2026One of the most underappreciated climate risks is dangerously warm overnight temperatures. We’re seeing an increasing frequency of nighttime lows staying at 80°F (26.67°C) or higher. There’s no question that 2026 was the warmest contiguous US summer for this impact. Data: doi.org/10.7289/V5SX... 215470