May 2026 - Page 2 of 5 - Climate Impact Company

News

05/12/2026, 9:24 am EDT

North America SSTA: Western Subtropics and Deep Tropics Significant Warming Ahead

As mid-May approaches, just a few weeks before onset of tropical cyclone season, the North Atlantic basin is moderately warm (+0.48C) which is about 0.2C warmer than one year ago and generally cooler than basin SSTA for this time of year during the past decade. The warm regions are the Gulf of Mexico (basin average +0.88C) and eastward across the Bahamas to southeast of Bermuda. Other areas are cooler than normal, especially off the Mid-Atlantic Coast and southwest of Portugal. The North Atlantic warm hole (NAHW) south of Greenland is developing.

05/11/2026, 12:33 pm EDT

Upper Ocean Heat East of Dateline 2nd Warmest Historically

Upper ocean heat index is between +2 and +2.5 for the past 3-4 weeks which is warmest on record for El Nino events EXCEPT for the 1997 episode. Potential energy for El Nino development and intensification is immense.

05/11/2026, 5:03 am EDT

Dynamics To Generate Heavy Rain Texas/Mid-south U.S.; Impressive High Pressure Ridge Days 16-30 Midwest U.S.

During the 8-14-day period, an upper trough forms off the Baja California Coast. A moist southwest flow aloft develops and enables a wet pattern to develop in Northeast Mexico, Texas, and northeastward toward the Ohio Valley. The prevailing dry pattern of this week is pushed to the northwest Great Plains (and Northwest U.S.). In this set-up, particularly with much warmer than normal SSTA in the Southeast Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, heavy rain/severe weather is likely for Texas to the Mid-south States.

05/08/2026, 1:45 pm EDT

U.S. April 2026 Climate Report

During April 2026, the Ohio and Tennessee Valley to Virginia observed record warmth. Most of the U.S. was MUCH WARMER than normal. The exception was slightly cooler than normal in North Dakota. The April 2026 precipitation pattern featured record amount in Wisconsin and Michigan and VERY WET conditions in Iowa and Missouri. Conversely, The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic States were very dry with several states in the to-5 all-time driest.