US had its second warmest spring on record

The United States recorded its second warmest spring on record in 2026, as drought spread across more than half of the country, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), AFP reports. Between March and May, the average temperature in the continental United States - excluding Alaska and Hawaii - was 13.2 degrees Celsius, only surpassed by the record set in 2012.

According to NOAA, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas recorded their warmest spring in the history of meteorological measurements carried out in the last 132 years. The data confirms the trend of increasing temperatures observed in recent decades, amid the intensification of climate change. According to scientists, the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations contributes to the increasing frequency of extreme heat episodes. The United States is the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China.

• Worst drought since the late 1980s

According to NOAA, the period from January to May 2026 was marked by the most severe drought in the first half of the year since 1988. At the beginning of June, more than 58% of the continental United States was experiencing some form of drought, a phenomenon that affects agriculture, water resources and increases the risk of wildfires. The situation is particularly worrying in the West of the country, where eight of the 11 states had their warmest winter ever recorded. According to NOAA, high temperatures have significantly reduced snowpack in mountainous areas, and in early spring the snowpack reached its lowest level on record. This phenomenon is being closely watched by authorities, because snowmelt is an essential source of water supply for many American states during the warm season.

• Climate contrasts between Hawaii and Alaska

While the continental United States has been experiencing high temperatures and drought, Hawaii has had its wettest spring in 36 years, with rainfall about twice the seasonal average. Alaska, on the other hand, has had its coldest spring since 2013, highlighting the increasingly stark climate contrasts across the United States. According to climatologists, such extreme variations are consistent with trends associated with global warming, which are favoring the intensification of unusual weather events.