Document Archive

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Mid-Atlantic Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.

The majority of the Mid-Atlantic experienced temperatures 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit (F) above normal and some sites had among one of their warmest summers on record.  The Mid-Atlantic saw generally above normal precipitation, notably in southern New York and northern Pennsylvania, while some areas in Maryland, Virginia, and the panhandle of West Virginia experienced below normal precipitation.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.

At most stations outside of Texas, summertime average temperatures were within 1 °F of normal. Most of Texas was 0-2 °F cooler than normal.  Summer 2021 was exceptionally wet across most of South Texas, parts of West Texas, and almost all of Mississippi, with many stations reporting more than double the normal monthly precipitation amounts.

Using the state-of-science and the collective expertise of the NOAA Drought Task Force, this report addresses three questions about the period of below normal rain, snow, runoff, and soil moisture, known as the 2020-21 U.S. Southwest drought: (1) How bad is it? (2) What caused it? And (3) When will it end?

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for June - August 2021.  Dated September 2021.

Temperatures across the basin were as much as 2°C (4°F) above normal for the summer.  For summer and each month of the season, all lake basins except Superior saw near- or above-average precipitation.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.

Extreme heat and reduced precipitation in the region this summer had a major impact on crops, grasslands, and wildlife. Many states ranked in the top 10 warmest summers on record.  Below normal precipitation was present this season for most of the region.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.

The Summer of 2021 was warm across most of the Midwest, with temperatures 1-5°F above normal. The unseasonably warm temperatures were felt most towards the north.  Precipitation was quite variable across the Midwest this summer, with generally wetter conditions to the east and drier conditions in the northwest portions of the region. In central and eastern areas of the Midwest, several heavy rain events led to above-normal precipitation accumulation.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for June - August 2021. Dated September 2021.

There were few extremes in summer temperatures across the region. Precipitation varied greatly across much of the Southeast for the summer.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Pacific Region for June - August 2021.  Dated September 2021.

During the June–August 2021 period, ENSO-neutral conditions persisted with a transition to La Niña conditions expected in the coming months and a 70%–80% chance of La Niña continuing through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2021–2022.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for June - August 2021.  Dated September 2021.

The Northeast had its sixth-hottest summer at 1.5°F above normal. This summer was among the 20 hottest for all 12 states.  The Northeast had its 10th-wettest summer with 116% of normal rainfall. This summer was among the 20 wettest for seven states.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June - August 2021.  Dated September 2021.

Temperatures were well above average across nearly the entire west and were record breaking in some cases.  Over 89% of the western U.S. is in drought, with 54% in extreme to exceptional drought.