Daily high-temperature records broken or tied on October 13 across parts of the central U.S.
Five daily high-temperature records were broken and one was tied at six sites across Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois on October 13, 2026. Temperatures at the sites reached 32.8–33.9°C (91–93°F), or 9.4–13.3°C (17–24°F) above normal, following the warmest September on record for the contiguous United States.
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St. Louis reached 33.9°C (93°F) at 15:24 LT (20:24 UTC), exceeding the previous October 13 record of 32.2°C (90°F) set in 1899. The maximum was 12.2°C (22°F) above the normal high of 21.7°C (71°F); the station’s climate record extends back to 1874.
Quincy, Illinois, reached 32.8°C (91°F), breaking the previous record of 30.6°C (87°F) set in 1975 and finishing 13.3°C (24°F) above normal. Springfield, Illinois, reached 33.3°C (92°F), exceeding the 31.1°C (88°F) record set in 1899 and tied in 1975, and was 12.8°C (23°F) above normal.
Springfield, Missouri, reached 33.9°C (93°F), breaking its previous October 13 record of 31.1°C (88°F) set in 2017. Wichita Eisenhower National Airport recorded 32.8°C (91°F), exceeding the 32.2°C (90°F) record set in 1954 and tied in 1966.
Tulsa reached 33.3°C (92°F), tying its October 13 record from 1963. Springfield, Missouri, Wichita and Tulsa were 12.2°C (22°F), 10.6°C (19°F) and 9.4°C (17°F) above normal, respectively.
Multiple sites has also set records on October 12 as wekk. St. Louis reached 33.3°C (92°F), exceeding the 31.7°C (89°F) record set in 1879 and tied in 1890; Quincy reached 32.8°C (91°F), above its 32.2°C (90°F) record from 2024; and Springfield, Illinois, reached 32.8°C (91°F), exceeding its 31.7°C (89°F) record from 1962.
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said above-normal temperatures would persist across parts of the Midwest and Southeast for several more days, with additional daily records possible. Cooler Canadian air was forecast to bring more seasonable temperatures to much of the central United States later in the week.
The October records followed the warmest September in the 132-year temperature record for the contiguous United States. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information reported an average temperature of 20.8°C (69.4°F), 2.6°C (4.6°F) above the 20th-century average and above the previous September record of 20.5°C (68.95°F) set in 1998.
Eight states recorded their warmest September, including Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
References:
1 Daily climate reports – National Weather Service: St. Louis · Quincy · Springfield, Illinois · Springfield, Missouri · Wichita · Tulsa – October 13, 2026
2 Short Range Forecast Discussion – NOAA/NWS – October 13, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
