It’s supposed to be "sweater weather." By now, you should be digging through the closet for that heavy wool coat or at least a decent flannel. Instead, you’re probably standing in line for an iced coffee while wearing a T-shirt, wondering if the calendar is broken. It’s weird. Why is it so hot in November? It feels like the seasons are just... sliding.
Honestly, it’s not just your imagination or a localized fluke.
Across the United States and much of Europe, November temperatures have been smashing records that stood for decades. We aren’t talking about a degree or two here. We’re talking about mid-summer humidity bleeding into the harvest season. While the occasional "Indian Summer" is a known phenomenon, the frequency and intensity of these heat spikes have shifted from a rare treat to a genuine weather anomaly that experts are scrambling to map out.
The reality is a messy cocktail of atmospheric pressure, shifting ocean currents, and the long-term reality of a warming planet.
The immediate culprit: Stuck weather patterns and the Jet Stream
Weather moves because the air moves. Usually, by the time November rolls around, the jet stream—that high-altitude river of air—starts dipping south. It brings that crisp, Canadian air down into the lower 48. But lately, the jet stream has been acting "lazy."
Meteorologists often point to something called an Omega Block. Imagine the Greek letter $\Omega$. The air flows up, curves over a massive ridge of high pressure, and then drops back down. If you are stuck under that "hump" of high pressure, you get baked. The high pressure acts like a lid on a pot. It traps the warmth, keeps the clouds away, and lets the sun beat down on the ground for days or weeks at a time.
When people ask why is it so hot in November, they are often feeling the direct effects of these stalled systems. Because the temperature contrast between the Arctic and the equator is shrinking, the jet stream doesn't have the same "punch" it used to. It gets loopy. It gets stuck.
It's the water, not just the air
You can’t talk about fall heat without talking about the oceans. The Atlantic and Pacific have been running historically hot.
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Take El Niño and La Niña, for instance. These aren't just buzzwords for storm chasers; they dictate where the heat goes. During an El Niño year, the warmer waters in the Pacific release massive amounts of heat into the atmosphere. This alters the storm track and often keeps the northern half of the U.S. much warmer than average during the late autumn months.
Then there’s the Marine Heatwave factor.
In 2023 and 2024, sea surface temperatures hit levels that left scientists like Dr. Zeke Hausfather and those at the Copernicus Climate Change Service stunned. Warm oceans mean the air above them stays warm. When a breeze blows in from the coast in November, it’s no longer a chilling wind; it’s a humid, warm tropical push. This moisture also holds onto heat better than dry air. That’s why your nights feel so muggy lately. The humidity acts like a thermal blanket, preventing the day’s heat from escaping back into space once the sun goes down.
The elephant in the room: Climate change isn't a future problem
Let's be blunt.
If we didn't have a background of global warming, these weather patterns would still happen, but they wouldn't be this hot. Climate change provides the "base" temperature. If the world is $1.2°C$ to $1.5°C$ warmer on average than it was in the pre-industrial era, every heatwave starts from a higher baseline.
It’s like starting a race ten yards ahead of the starting line.
Research from groups like World Weather Attribution shows that many of these extreme heat events are now ten times more likely to occur than they were just forty years ago. November is actually one of the fastest-warming months in certain regions, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. We are seeing "seasonal creep," where summer effectively lasts an extra three weeks, pushing autumn further into December.
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Why is it so hot in November? The "feedback loop" of dry soil
There is a local factor people often overlook: the ground itself.
If the fall has been dry, the soil is parched. Usually, the sun’s energy goes into evaporating moisture from the dirt and plants. It’s a cooling process. But if the ground is already bone-dry, all that solar energy goes directly into heating the air.
- Dry Soil: Acts as a heat magnifier.
- Lack of Snow Cover: Without white snow to reflect sunlight back into space (the Albedo effect), the dark ground absorbs every bit of heat.
- Urban Heat Islands: If you live in a city, the concrete and asphalt are soaking up that November sun and radiating it back at you long after dark.
It’s a cycle that feeds itself. The hotter it gets, the more the ground dries out, which makes it even easier for the temperature to spike the next day.
The weird psychological toll of a warm autumn
Humans are seasonal creatures. We expect the transition. When it stays 80 degrees in November, it messes with our internal clocks.
Retailers hate it because nobody wants to buy winter coats. Farmers worry because fruit trees might start budding early, only to be killed by a sudden frost in December. This "false spring" (or extended summer) can wreck local ecosystems. Migratory birds might stay too long, and hibernating animals might not get the signal to bunk down, burning through their fat reserves too early in the season.
Basically, the heat is a stressor for everything—plants, animals, and your electricity bill.
How to handle the November heat spikes
Since we can’t exactly "fix" the jet stream by Tuesday, we have to adapt to the reality of a shifting climate.
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1. Don't winterize your home too early
If you have a swamp cooler or window AC units, wait a bit longer to pull them out. Many people find themselves sweating through a 85-degree November day with no way to cool their bedroom because they "followed the calendar" and packed the gear away in September. Keep the fans accessible.
2. Watch your plants
Your garden is confused. If it's hot and dry, keep watering. Many people stop watering their perennials in October, thinking the plants are going dormant. If the heat persists, those plants are still active and can die of dehydration before winter even starts.
3. Adjust your energy expectations
Be prepared for a "shoulder season" that doesn't exist anymore. Historically, October and November were months where you didn't need the AC or the heater. That's changing. Budget for higher cooling costs later in the year.
4. Stay informed on "Flash Droughts"
When November heat hits, it can lead to rapid drying of vegetation. This increases fire risk in places that aren't used to it during late autumn. Keep an eye on local burn bans and fire weather warnings, even if the leaves are already on the ground.
What’s next for our seasons?
The data suggests this isn't a one-off. We are moving toward a climate where November essentially becomes "October 2.0." While some might enjoy the extra beach days or golf outings, the underlying causes—ocean warming and atmospheric blocking—point toward a more volatile future.
The best thing to do is stay flexible. Monitor the NOAA Climate Prediction Center for long-range outlooks. They provide "three-month outlooks" that are surprisingly accurate at predicting whether your region is in for a "t-shirt Thanksgiving."
Accept that the old rules of the seasons are being rewritten in real-time. If it’s hot, stay hydrated, keep the sunscreen handy, and maybe hold off on that pumpkin spice latte until the thermometer actually drops.