A late-summer monsoon in 2026 provided the Great Barrier Reef with increased cloud cover and lower sea temperatures, offering crucial relief from heat stress and supporting initial coral recoveryRegional coral cover trendsMarking the 40th year of the Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP), scientists surveyed 121 reefs across the system. Coral cover across all three major regions remained stable or showed slight gains, staying near or above long-term averages:Northern Region (Cape York to Cooktown): Increased to 35.1% hard coral cover (up from 30% in 2025). Central Region (Cooktown to Proserpine): Rose slightly to 31.6% (from 28.6% in 2025, within the margin of error). Overall, 56% of surveyed reefs showed no change in coral cover, 28% experienced increases, and 16% recorded declines. The reef endured flooding and two tropical cyclones during the season, including Category 5 Cyclone Narelle in March 2026.