New Jersey Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Edison
This month in numbers
New Jersey experienced its 9th warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 22.17°C, a significant 1.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Maximum temperatures for June were particularly notable, ranking as the 5th highest on record at 28.72°C, an anomaly of +2.1°C. Precipitation for the month was considerably lower than average, ranking as the 64th driest June with 62.99 mm, a deficit of 30 mm. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest land temperature on record.
What changed
The period from April to June 2026 was the 7th warmest on record for New Jersey, with an average temperature of 17°C, an anomaly of +1.8°C. Maximum temperatures during this three-month span were the 3rd highest on record, at 23.42°C, which is 2°C above the baseline. In stark contrast, precipitation for the April-June quarter was the 73rd driest on record, with only 65.02 mm, a deficit of 34 mm. This dry trend has contributed to an unusual concentration of wildfires, with four events recorded between late June and early July, representing 100% of the annual total for New Jersey. Additionally, a single flood event occurred between May and early July, also representing 100% of the annual total. New Jersey's 1-month temperature anomaly of +1.72°C places it 77th out of 234 regions globally, and 4th warmest within the NOAA Northeast US climate region.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth and dryness in New Jersey are being influenced by a weak El Niño, which is expected to strengthen and persist through the end of the year. El Niño typically brings warmer-than-average winters to the Northeast USA, and while its summer impacts can vary, it is currently contributing to warmer conditions. The dry conditions have exacerbated wildfire risk, with recent reports highlighting that climate change is creating more "fire weather" days, characterized by warm temperatures, low humidity, and dry conditions. This has led to larger fires and longer containment efforts, with human activity being the primary cause of nearly all wildfires in the state. Despite the El Niño, New Jersey experienced significant flash flooding in early July, with some communities receiving close to 6 inches of rain in a single day, an amount that can exceed the typical rainfall for the entire month. This intense rainfall overwhelmed storm drains and urban roadways, causing widespread damage. More information on extreme weather events can be found at Extreme Weather tracker and on the evolving ENSO phase at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The strengthening El Niño is expected to continue influencing weather patterns in the coming months, with forecasts suggesting a hotter-than-average summer for New Jersey, particularly in July and August, accompanied by higher humidity and warmer nights.
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 – New Jersey
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
New Jersey – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – New Jersey
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfa · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in New Jersey. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (10.9°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 24.6°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.3°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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey changing?
New Jersey 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 New Jersey come from?
Climate data for New Jersey 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 New Jersey climate data cover?
The New Jersey climate profile covers Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth and surrounding areas. New Jersey climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the New Jersey climate update refreshed?
The New Jersey 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.