Despite the influence of La Niña, December 2020 was the eighth-hottest December on record helping 2020 become the second-hottest year on record. 

January 2021 is favored to be wetter and warmer than average for much of the country.

November 2020 was the second-warmest November on record, which increases 2020's chance of becoming the warmest year on record to over 50%.

December 2020 and the start of the 2020-2021 winter looks warmer and drier than average for much of the country.

October 2020 was the fourth warmest October on record dating back to 1880, which makes it the lowest-ranked month so far in 2020.

November 2020 is favored to be warmer than average for much of the United States and drier than average across the southern US.

August 2020 was the second-hottest August on record, and it ended the hottest summer on record for the Northern Hemisphere.

The September 2020 temperature and precipitation outlook favors a warmer- and drier-than-average September across the western United States, and a wetter-than-average month across the south-central Plains and much of the East.

July 2020 was the second-warmest July on record for the globe, as 2020 continues its scorching path to one of the hottest years on record.