Connecticut Climate
Top 5 Cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Hartford, and Waterbury
This month in numbers
Connecticut experienced its 7th warmest April on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 10°C, a notable 2°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Maximum temperatures also ranked high, coming in as the 9th warmest April on record at 16.5°C, which is 2.4°C above average. Precipitation, however, was significantly below average, ranking as the 66th driest April on record with only 61.98 mm, a deficit of 44.2 mm compared to the baseline. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1.1°C.
What changed
Looking at the broader picture, the February–April 2026 period saw Connecticut's average temperature at 3.43°C, ranking as the 32nd warmest such period on record. Precipitation for this three-month span was also below average, ranking 63rd driest with 75.19 mm, a deficit of 21.3 mm. This trend of warmer and drier conditions for Connecticut contrasts with the national and global picture, where global land temperatures for the same three-month period ranked as the 2nd warmest on record. Connecticut's 1-month anomaly of +2.04°C places it 90th out of 234 regions globally, while for the 3-month anomaly, it sits at 190th with +1.02°C.
What’s driving change?
The warmer and drier conditions in Connecticut are influenced by several factors. The state experienced a significant concentration of wildfire activity in May, with four events representing 100% of the annual total, which is an unusual concentration for the region. Additionally, two drought events were logged for Connecticut over the past 12 months, with the recent two also representing 100% of the annual total, indicating worsening drought conditions. These dry conditions, coupled with warmer temperatures, create an environment conducive to wildfires. The current ENSO state is Neutral, but forecasts indicate a strong likelihood of El Niño developing in the coming months, with an 82% chance for May–July and increasing to 98% by August–October. Historically, El Niño phases during winter (DJF) typically bring warmer conditions to the Northeast USA, though with no clear signal for precipitation.
Looking ahead
The strong forecast for an evolving El Niño phase suggests that Connecticut could experience milder-than-average conditions in the coming months, potentially leading to reduced heating demand.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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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 trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see 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.