Full Breakdown
July 2026 Sets Record as Hottest Month in the Contiguous United States
8/12/2026, 12:29:09 AM
Core Event
In July 2026 the contiguous United States experienced its warmest month on record. NOAA reported an average temperature of 76.9 °F (24.9 °C), 3.3 °F (1.8 °C) above the 20th-century mean and 0.1–0.2 °F hotter than July 1936 and July 2012. Every state ranked in the warmest third of its historical July values, and the month’s average low of 64.2 °F (17.9 °C) was the highest nighttime minimum ever recorded for a U.S. month.
Background & Context
The July 1936 heat during the Dust Bowl long stood as the benchmark for extreme summer warmth. Scientists attribute the 2026 record to human-caused climate change and a strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific, which historically boosts summer temperatures.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature (contiguous U.S.) | 76.9 °F (24.9 °C) | 3.3 °F above 20th-century average |
| Average nighttime low | 64.2 °F (17.9 °C) | Warmest monthly minimum on record |
| State-wide warmth | All 48 states >= 1 °F above 20th-century July average | 13 states in their top-5 warmest Julys |
| Wyoming | 5.1 °F (2.8 °C) above average; hottest July on record | |
| Drought coverage | 48.5 % of CONUS (as of Aug 4) | Slight increase since June |
| Extreme precipitation events | Flash floods in Texas Hill Country and eastern New York | Despite overall dry July (2.55 in total precipitation) |
| Alaska | Coldest July since 2008 | Contrasts with nationwide warmth |
| Record heat indices | 105–115 °F expected in Southeast (NOAA forecast) | Anticipated into early August |
Why It Matters
The unprecedented nighttime warmth limits physiological recovery, heightening heat-stress risk for people, livestock and crops. AP-NORC polling shows nearly half of Americans report major impacts on electricity bills, while about two-thirds say outdoor activities were curtailed. Drought-driven water restrictions in Puerto Rico and record-low levels in Lake Mead illustrate the broader resource strain.
Official Statements & Responses
- Jeff Masters, meteorologist at Yale Climate Connections, warned that breaking Dust-Bowl records “means we’re in deep trouble.”
- Russ Vose, chief of monitoring at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information, linked the current heat to burning of coal, oil and gas.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Salt Lake City hit 109 °F on July 12, prompting the cancellation of the Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C. and other outdoor events.
- In Mississippi, more than half the state recorded “much above average” temperatures, with heat-index readings above 100 °F and widespread power-grid stress.
- Texas Hill Country and eastern New York experienced flash floods that inundated roads and forced evacuations, despite the month’s overall dryness.
What’s Next
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center projects above-average August temperatures across the central and southern CONUS, with a greater than 50 % chance of continued heat in parts of coastal California and the southern Plains. Drought is expected to persist and expand in the Northwest and east of the Rockies, while wildland-fire potential remains above normal in the Northwest, Great Basin and central Rockies throughout August. A detailed July 2026 Climate Report is scheduled for release on August 13, 2026.
