Connecticut Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Hartford, and Waterbury
This month in numbers
Connecticut experienced its 6th warmest April–June period on record, with an average temperature of 14.83°C, marking an anomaly of +1.4°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. June 2026 alone saw an average temperature of 20.06°C, ranking as the 14th warmest June in 77 years of records. Precipitation for the April–June quarter was notably low, ranking as the 72nd driest on record with just 67.31 mm, a deficit of 37.2 mm compared to the baseline. Globally, land temperatures for April–June 2026 ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, at 15.74°C, an anomaly of +1°C.
What changed
The past three months have been significantly warmer than average for Connecticut, with both average and maximum temperatures ranking among the top 6 warmest on record for the April–June period. This regional warming aligns with a broader national and global trend, as global land temperatures for the same period were the 2nd warmest in 86 years of records. Connecticut's 1-month anomaly for June was 0.07°C cooler than its NOAA Northeast US climate region average.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth in Connecticut is occurring amidst a strengthening El Niño event in the Pacific. The current El Niño is weak, with an anomaly of +0.98°C for April–June 2026, but is forecast to remain in an El Niño state through the end of 2026. El Niño typically brings warmer-than-average winters to the Northeast USA, though its summer impacts are less clear for the immediate region. However, a rapidly strengthening El Niño can amplify extremes and influence global atmospheric patterns. Connecticut has also experienced an unusual concentration of extreme weather events recently, with four wildfires occurring between June 27 and July 13, representing 100% of the annual total for the past 12 months. Additionally, one flood event was logged between May 19 and July 12, also representing 100% of the annual total. These events are occurring during a period where Connecticut's wildfire risk is increasing due to climate change, which contributes to drier conditions, hotter temperatures, and stronger winds. For more details on extreme weather, visit Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
The ongoing El Niño is expected to continue strengthening through late 2026, with a 63% chance of a very strong El Niño from November to January, which could rank among the largest events on record. This could lead to a milder-than-average winter for Connecticut, with a reduced heating demand.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USA
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) or 1991–2020 (rainfall). See methodology.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Connecticut
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Connecticut – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Connecticut
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Connecticut. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.0°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 25.2°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.0°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Connecticut
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Connecticut changing?
Connecticut is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Connecticut come from?
Climate data for Connecticut comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Connecticut climate data cover?
The Connecticut climate profile covers Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Hartford and surrounding areas. Connecticut climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Connecticut climate update refreshed?
The Connecticut climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.