Extreme Temperature Diary- Friday November 21st, 2025/Main Topic: U.S. September/October 2025 Record Scoreboard and Climatological Review – Guy On Climate
Dear Diary. We are way overdue for a monthly climatological review because of the U S. government shutdown. Now that NCEI has been back up and running for over a week they have managed to process both September and October 2025 data and have written up a U.S. report for October. Here on this site, we usually present monthly summaries near the 10th of each month, and each is available by clicking the link below:
guyonclimate.com
I’m repeating this mantra every month:
Some people ask me, why track record temperatures? More heat does not affect me, so why should I care? Because record warmth is a big symptom of the climate's health over the last few decades, giving us warning of what may come. Heed the drip drip drip coming into the Titanic. @katharinehayhoe.com — Guy Walton..."The Climate Guy" (@climateguyw.bsky.social) 2025-09-09T20:28:25.534Z
October 2025 got ranked by the National Center for Environmental Information for the lower 48 states as 8th warmest or 124th coolest since records began being kept in 1895 at +2.83°F above the 1901-2000 average.
  September 2025 got ranked by the National Center for Environmental Information for the lower 48 states as 7th warmest or 125th coolest since records began being kept in 1895 at +3.07°F above the 1901-2000 average.
  The above data was from:
ncdc.noaa.gov
During October the warmest conditions were in the central portion of the nation. Most reports of record chill came from the West. Most reports of record warmth occurred in the central part of the nation.
You can check out record totals for yourself on my NCEI record archives:
NCEI Record Count Archive – Guy On Climate
Here are my two U.S. Daily Record Scoreboards updated through 9/09/2025 (data compiled from the following NCEI site):
ncdc.noaa.gov
I’m also keeping tabs on record report totals to verify a scientific study I helped to complete in the decade of the 2000s. We’ll eventually see how skewed ratios of record warm to cold reports get by the year 2100, which the study mentions as 50-1 for DHMX vs. DLMN:
Relative increase of record high maximum temperatures compared to record low minimum temperatures in the U.S. – Meehl – 2009 – Geophysical Research Letters – Wiley Online Library
  DHMX= Daily High Max Reports. DLMN= Daily Low Min Reports. DHMN= Daily High Min Reports. DLMX=Daily Low Max Reports.
Boldly highlighted red, blue, or purple colored months, such as December 2023 and June 2021, that have ratios of >10 to 1 daily or <1 to 10 of daily warm to low records are either historically hot or cold, most of which have made news. NCEI rankings are for the lower 48 states with the warmest ranking since 1895 of average temperatures being 131 and 1 being the coldest as of 2025. Blue colors represent cold months and red warm. Those months and years with counts close to a 1 to 1 ratio of highs to lows are colored black. All-time record hottest or coldest months and years are boldly colored in purple. NCDC rankings have been color coded (under tabs in each file) such that values of 55 to 75 are black representing neutral months or years (+ or – 10 from the average ranking of 64).
Totals are record reports for the entire United States including all territories minus those from Alaska. I’ve subtracted those from Alaska to get a better representation of what has occurred across the lower 48 states in association with lower 48 state rankings.
October 2025 had approximately a 13 to 3 ratio of record DHMX to DLMN individual record counts, so the color I used for that month was dark red on the top chart.
October 2025 had approximately a 3 to 1 ratio of record DHMN to DLMX individual record counts, so the color I used for that month was red on the bottom chart.
Due to climate change, we are seeing fewer blue colors on these Record Scoreboards with time.
The average temperature lower 48 state ranking for October 2025 was 124, which was colored red since it was warmer than average. We are seeing fewer blue colors on my charts, and October 2025 was yet another red or warm month.
I color rankings of +10 to -10 from the average ranking for the lower 48 states of 65 black, indicating that these are near average temperature wise. The top warmest ranking for 2025 would be 131 since rankings began in 1895.
Looking at the type and number of record reports, November 2025 has gotten off to a warn start, and meteorological models are consistently forecasting an above average November for temperatures despite the first record cold shot stretching from the Midwest into the Southeast.
Interestingly, here is what we see as far as overall yearly ratios go for the 2020s so far. Warmth is key here:
Interestingly, here is what we see as far as overall yearly ratios go for the 2020s so far. Warmth is key here:
 
Here is much more detailed climatology for the October 2025 as complied by NOAA:
Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in October 2025 | News | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in October 2025Central U.S. was warm and dry in October, while storms battered the coastal regions Courtesy of Canva.com
Key Points:- The contiguous U.S. (CONUS) experienced the eighth-warmest October in the 131-year record.
- October featured widespread storm activity along the nation’s periphery, as remnants of tropical cyclones caused flooding in Alaska, the Southwest and Puerto Rico, and powerful atmospheric rivers and coastal storms lashed the West and East Coasts.
- Warm and dry conditions across the interior contributed to a slight increase in the national drought coverage to 43.7%.
 Other Highlights:Temperature The average October temperature for the CONUS was 56.9°F, which is 2.8°F above the 20th-century average. Above- to much-above-average temperatures covered much of the central U.S. as well as the far Northeast. Thirteen states recorded a top-10 warm October, with Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Texas each averaging at least 5°F above their 20th-century averages. In contrast, parts of the Northwest and Mid-Atlantic experienced below-average temperatures, particularly for daytime highs.
Alaska’s average temperature was 31.5°F, which is 6.0°F above the 1925–2000 average and tied for the ninth-warmest October in the 101-year record. Much-above-average warmth affected portions of Southcentral Alaska, the Interior and the North Slope.
Hawai‘i’s average temperature for October was 68.5°F, 0.2°F above the 1991–2020 average and ranking in the middle third of its 35-year record.
Precipitation Precipitation for the CONUS totaled 2.33 inches in October, which is 0.17 inch above average and ranks in the middle third of the record. Above-average precipitation fell across portions of the Western U.S., the Rocky Mountains and northern Plains, as well as parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, the western Ohio Valley and eastern Carolinas. In contrast, much of the central U.S. saw near- or below-average October rainfall.
Remnants of tropical cyclones and strong storm systems impacted multiple U.S. regions throughout October. Alaska and the Southwest faced flooding from the remnants of Super Typhoon Halong and Hurricane Priscilla, respectively, while outer bands from Hurricane Melissa led to flash flooding in Puerto Rico. The Pacific Coast was impacted by a rare mid-month storm and a subsequent series of atmospheric rivers. In the East, two coastal systems brought heavy rain, high winds and flooding to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, disrupting travel and causing widespread power outages.
Alaska received 5.18 inches of precipitation in October, 0.79 inch above average, ranking in the wettest third of the record. Parts of the West and Interior were much wetter than normal, and the North Slope averaged more than 2 inches, marking its wettest October on record.
Precipitation for Hawaii in October averaged 3.55 inches, 1.57 inches below the 1991–2020 average and in the driest third of the record.
DroughtAccording to the November 4 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 43.7% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, a slight increase of 0.7% from the end of September.
Drought contracted or reduced in intensity across parts of the western U.S. and portions of the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. However, drought developed in parts of the southern Plains and portions of the Mississippi Valley, and further intensified in parts of the Southeast, Great Lakes and Northeast.
For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive October 2025 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on November 25, 2025. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
Related Links October 2025 U.S. Climate Report (Available November 25, 2025)
Climate at a Glance
National Temperature and Precipitation Maps
Climatological Rankings
Climatological Rankings Explained
State of the Climate Summaries
County Superlatives
Average Temperature Anomalies
Precipitation Anomalies
October 2025 Record Setters
Here are some “ETs” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
We have a tendency in weather to focus on the shiny object. Right now that shiny object is the cold, which is elusive.
The reality: over the past week, the US has seen a Blow Torch. 100s of heat records to just a dozen cold. The heat continues through midweek. — Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T15:58:48.556Z
Will #COP30 be the same story? We'll know shortly.
Stay tuned...
www.yahoo.com/news/opinion... — Michael E. Mann (@michaelemann.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T17:39:00.055Z
Nearly 30 countries refuse to sign a final #COP30 agreement that doesn't include "fossil fuel phase-out," as negotiations head into overtime.
Live updates from @fionaharvey.bsky.social, @olliemilman.bsky.social and @theguardian.com here: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2... — Katharine Hayhoe (@katharinehayhoe.com) 2025-11-21T18:28:10.340Z
www.theguardian.com/environment/... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T09:51:32.902Z
Powerful article from Beth Mead on how the #climate crisis is already threatening the future of sport & the importance of investing in adaptation. If you agree please do sign & share the petition urging Ministers to act petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
@climatemajority.bsky.social — Caroline Lucas (@carolinelucas.bsky.social) 2025-11-20T10:59:20.050Z
Interesting. Synthetic hurricane modeling showing higher % of named storms hitting the U.S. as hurricanes the past 22 years vs. prior 22 years. "One theory: warming seas are making storms stay longer at hurricane strength. This may not necessarily be evident from the historical data that we have." — Dr. Jeff Masters (@drjeffmasters.bsky.social) 2025-11-20T20:41:47.623Z
Counting down the final hours at COP30. Follow along here: — Katharine Hayhoe (@katharinehayhoe.com) 2025-11-21T17:12:20.928Z
'As I write my last column, the facts on #climate crisis speak for themselves'
Since 1995, when the first Cop was held, carbon levels have increased from 360.67 parts per million to 426.68 parts now.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T09:57:12.692Z
My Chat (Rant) about the latest State of the Climate 2025 Report Release...
youtu.be/iyfMW0RltLU?...
#climate #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #ClimateScience #ClimateTech #weather #COP #COP30 #Belem #Brazil — Paul Beckwith (@paulhbeckwith.bsky.social) 2025-11-19T03:16:31.826Z
While the entire weather enterprise - it seems - is focused on extreme US cold - which may take weeks to materialize, the country has been roasting. Over the past 7 days 100s of heat records have been broken, and the nation as a whole has been ~4F above normal. +20F near the Ark-La-Tx!!
1/ — Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T14:27:13.482Z
— Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T16:49:54.132Z
Perspective. — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:41:53.490Z
Arnold Clark Charge named Zapmap’s ‘Up-and-Coming EV Network’ of the year
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/electric_hyb... — Renewable Energy Magazine (@renewablesnews.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:49:20.653Z
2005 - European Parliament resolution on "Winning the Battle Against Global #Climate Change"
"[clean energy is] hampered by numerous barriers, not least perverse incentives such as subsidies for fossil fuels; therefore, calls on the Commission to propose legislation to abolish all such subsidies" — Dr. Aaron Thierry (@thierryaaron.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T05:56:23.188Z
EIB Group endorses 17.7 billion euros of support for semiconductors, green transition, energy networks and social housing
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/panorama/eib... — Renewable Energy Magazine (@renewablesnews.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:17:38.493Z
www.semafor.com/article/11/2... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T16:56:58.254Z
New Hampshire’s largest community solar project under construction at former gravel pit
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/new... — Renewable Energy Magazine (@renewablesnews.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T09:28:51.567Z
‘Gobsmacking’ #solar farm that could power #AI datacentres ‘possibly unparalleled’ in Australia or world
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T09:59:50.542Z
The 'Independent' swallows #EDF #nuclear lobby line.
Fail to mention, Hartlepool Nuclear Power station supposed to close in 2009. It's 2025.
It has the worst graphite core cracking and mass loss of any of UK's reactors.
www.independent.co.uk/news/busines... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T13:02:51.225Z
Ukrainian nuclear power plants operating at reduced capacity for past ten days after a military attack damaged electrical substation critical for #nuclear safety and security.
oilprice.com/Latest-Energ... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:27:22.181Z
Russian #nuclear claws.
www.middleeastmonitor.com/20251120-egy... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:29:59.597Z
France Resumes Reprocessed Uranium Exports to Russia, Greenpeace Calls Move “Immoral”.
www.marineinsight.com/shipping-new... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:20:18.274Z
— Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T10:39:54.820Z
I approve. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/c... — Nancy Knowlton (@nancyknowlton.bsky.social) 2025-11-21T18:21:45.168Z
Things are not always what they seem: The deer isn't crossing the road. The road is crossing the forest! 🌳
We need nature more than ever. #ActOnClimate
#climate #energy #nature — Mike Hudema (@mikehudema.bsky.social) 2025-11-20T19:07:02.423Z
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