Weather of 2020
The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2020. Global conditions. As 2020 began, sea surface temperatures were above normal in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator, which had the potential to develop into El Niño conditions. On January 9, a group of climate scientists writing for ENSO Blog published their forecast for atmospheric conditions. They believed that there was a 60% chance that the environment would remain in neutral conditions related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); this was based on the expectation that the above normal  water temperatures would return to normal. By March, there was little evidence of increased rainfall near the equator. Trade winds were enhanced in the central and tropical Pacific Ocean, and water temperatures remained above normal. On April 9, ENSO Blog reaffirmed their belief that environmental conditions would remain neutral. However, the sea surface temperatures near the equatorial pacific began to cool well below average, indicating a developing La Niña. As a result, the ENSO Blog issued La Niña watch, stating a 50–55% chance of a strong La Niña. In September, NOAA confirmed that the environment shifted to a La Niña  pattern, based on lower than normal water temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. The ENSO Blog estimated a 75% chance that La Niña conditions would persist through the end of the year, in part due to a strengthening Walker circulation. Monthly summary. January 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , which was above the 20th century average. This made January 2020 the warmest January on record, surpassing 2016 by . The month's departure from the average was the fourth highest of any month ever recorded. January 2020 was also the warmest January on  record in the Northern Hemisphere. February 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , which was above the 20th century average. It was the second warmest February on record, behind only 2016. March 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , which was above the 20th century average. The month was the warmest March on record for South America. April 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , which was above the 20th century average. The month was the warmest April on record for the Caribbean, with reliable records for the  area beginning in 1910. The global ocean temperature during the month was , which was the highest April temperature since global records began in 1880. May 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , tying 2016 for the warmest May on record. The temperature was above the 20th century average. It was the hottest ever recorded May in the Northern Hemisphere, and for all of Asia. June 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , which was above the 20th century average. July 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of , tying  2016 for the second warmest July on record, and just shy of June 2019's record warmth. The temperature was above the 20th century average. The Arctic sea ice extent was 23.1% below the average from 1981 to 2020, which was the smallest sea ice extent on record. September 2020 had an average global surface land and water temperature of which was the highest global surface land and water temperature in 141 year record by surpassing the record of 2015 and 2016 by . Summary by weather type. Winter storms and cold waves. North America. The winter season in North America , was harsh and the most significant weather events to affect North America in several years. It was the costliest on record with a damage total of at least $197 billion (2021 USD). This season included four storms with reaching Category 3 on Regional Snowfall Index scale. These damages were mostly contributed by a crippling cold wave occurred in mid-February. Along with that, several other major events occur such as an early-season severe ice storm in the South, a powerful nor'easter in mid-December, another major nor'easter on Groundhog Day, two widespread major blizzards in mid-February that  affected the South and the Midwest, a major blizzard in March that affected the Rockies, and a late-season nor'easter that affected most of New England. It was also the deadliest winter season in over a decade, causing at least 235 fatalities. A La Niña weather pattern influenced most of the winter in North America during the season. Floods. In 2020, eighteen flood events occurred, of which twelve occurred in Asia, two occurred in Europe, two occurred in Africa, one occurred in North America and one occurred in South America. In January, a subtropical storm named Kurumĺ caused heavy rainfall  in southeast region of Brazil. The highest rainfall occurred in the state Minas Gerais's capital Belo Horizonte. The flash flooding also caused mudslides in the region. In Europe, UK suffered a severe winter flooding. It initially started in November last year, but the flood continued in isolated regions during December and January. It got worsen after Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis affected in February and caused flash flooding, becoming the wettest month since records began in 1766. England and Wales had on average of rainfall in this month beating the record from 1833. Meanwhile Spain and France had recorded  flash flooding thanks due to Storm Gloria. In February, the southeast region of Kentucky experienced heavy rainfall and affected the counties of Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley counties. The governor of Kentucky declared state of emergency in these counties. In March, a series of flood events affected the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti and Tanzania affecting at least 700,000 people. It began with heavy downpour which led to massive landslides and flooding. Droughts, heat waves, and wildfires. From May 16–19, a heatwave affected southeastern Europe, with temperatures  reaching . In June, large wildfires spread across the Alaskan tundra. The Bush Fire burned across Arizona for several days, becoming the fifth largest ever recorded in the state. Tornadoes. There were 689 tornadoes in the United States, as well as dozens of other tornadoes around the world. Worldwide, tornadoes have killed 87 people, including 75 in the United States. Tornadoes have caused US$4.4 billion in damage. On April 12–13, an outbreak of 140 confirmed tornadoes affected the southeastern United States. The outbreak left $3 billion in damage and killed 32 people, making it the deadliest tornado outbreak since  2014. As Hurricane Isaias moved quickly north along the East Coast of the United States, it spawned an outbreak of 38 tornadoes that left two fatalities, both of which related to an EF3 tornado near Windsor, North Carolina. It was the strongest tornado spawned by a tropical cyclone in the United States since 2005. Tropical cyclones. Throughout the year, 72 tropical cyclones have formed throughout the world in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, 48 have been named, including a subtropical cyclone in the South Atlantic Ocean, by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained  winds of 35 knots (65 km/h, 40 mph). The strongest storms of the year so far are Cyclone Harold in the South Pacific Ocean and Cyclone Amphan in the North Indian Ocean. The deadliest and costliest storm of the year was also Cyclone Amphan, causing over 100 fatalities in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Tropical cyclones have caused US$20.6 billion in damage and killed 255 people. The Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record, with a record 30 named storms, surpassing 2005. There was a record 11 tropical cyclones that struck the United States, with the  strongest – Hurricane Laura – leaving $19 billion in damage when it struck Louisiana. In November, powerful hurricanes Eta and Iota struck Central America within a two week period, resulting in significant damage and loss of life. The Pacific hurricane season had a record early start in late April, although it did not feature a hurricane until July 23, one of the latest dates on record. The Pacific typhoon season was fairly inactive for the first half of the year, with its first storm, Vongfong, forming in late May and moving across the Philippines; the typhoon caused around ₱1.57 billion  (US$50 million) in damage, and killed 5 people. For the first July on record, the month did not include a single typhoon. The North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone was slightly above average with nine tropical cyclones, five cyclonic storms, four severe cyclonic storms, three very severe cyclonic storms, and one super cyclonic storm. The first storm, in the Bay of Bengal, formed on May 16 from a low-pressure area. It went on to strengthen into a super cyclonic storm, being designated Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan, and make landfall in India three days later, becoming the costliest storm ever  recorded in the basin. Amphan simultaneously dissipated. In June, Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga became the first storm in the new thirteen-list naming system. After Nisarga dissipated, there was no activity between June 4 and October 11 – one of the longest gaps in inactivity on record. Then, on October 11, after the inactivity gap came to a close, Deep Depression BOB 02 formed. It made landfall in Andhra Pradesh and caused extensive damage. Two more depressions formed in October, and none were named – one of only a few occurrences on record. Gati formed on November 21, causing one of the  longest naming gaps in history. Gati later became a Category 3 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and made landfall in the Horn of Africa near Ras Hafun which became later the strongest cyclone to make a landfall Somalia since reliable records began in 1891. Two more storms formed in the Bay of Bengal – Nivar and Burevi, both impacting South India. Nivar was in late November and affected South India at Tamil Nadu. Burevi formed on November 30, and made a landfall in North Sri Lanka, but it stalled near Comorin and dissipated. Timeline. This is a  timeline of weather events during 2020.