Full Breakdown
July 2026 Becomes Hottest Month on Record for the Contiguous United States
8/12/2026, 6:11:06 AM
Record-Breaking July Temperatures
In July 2026 NOAA reported the contiguous United States’ average temperature was 76.9 °F, 3.3 °F above the 20th-century average, surpassing July 1936 and July 2012. Every state in the Lower 48 was at least 1 °F above its long-term July average, and 13 states recorded one of their five warmest Julys. Wyoming showed the largest anomaly at +5.1 °F, its hottest July on record.
Climate Drivers: El Niño and Human-Made Warming
Scientists linked the heat to a strong El Niño that peaked this summer and to the ongoing trend of human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions, which raise nighttime temperatures.
Temperature and Weather Statistics
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous-U.S. average temperature | 76.9 °F (3.3 °F above 20th-century average) | NOAA |
| Nighttime low average | 64.2 °F (highest monthly low) | NOAA |
| Daytime high average | 89.5 °F (sixth-warmest) | NOAA |
| Wyoming average anomaly | +5.1 °F (state record) | NOAA |
| Precipitation (contiguous U.S.) | 2.55 in (0.23 in below normal) | NOAA |
| Drought extent (as of Aug. 4) | 48.5 % of contiguous U.S. | BNO News |
| Extreme rainfall events | >28 in near Knippa, TX (July 13-17); ~12 in eastern NY (July 28-30) | NOAA |
| Record-high daily temperature (July 3) | 95 °F in western Pennsylvania | TribLive |
Impacts on Communities and Environment
Heat domes pushed heat-index values above 100 °F and limited nighttime relief. Combined heat and drought fueled wildfires, burning more than 140,000 acres in Oregon and prompting evacuations. Heavy rains in Texas and New York caused flash-flooding, property damage, and transportation disruptions. An AP-NORC poll found nearly half of Americans said the heat markedly raised electricity bills, and two-thirds curtailed outdoor activities.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported July’s average sea-surface temperature across the extra-polar oceans hit a new high of 20.96 °C, underscoring ocean-atmosphere heat links.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources differ on whether nighttime lows or daytime highs drove the record; the exact contribution remains unquantified.
- Mortality figures are limited to reports of “dozens” of heat-related deaths in New Jersey, with no national tally available.
Timeline of Key Events
- July 3 – Highest daily temperature (95 °F) in western Pennsylvania.
- July 12 – New all-time highs at sites in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana (e.g., 109 °F in Salt Lake City).
- July 13-17 – >28 in rain near Knippa, TX.
- July 25 – Bench Fire in Warm Springs, OR.
- July 28-30 – ~12 in rain in eastern NY.
- August 4 – Drought affected 48.5 % of the contiguous United States.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Potentially record-breaking heat will grip the Southeast to south-central U.S. into next week, with heat indices reaching 105–115 degrees Fahrenheit and little nighttime relief,” — NOAA’s National Weather Service
- “Extremely high temperatures across the continental U.S. this summer, along with intense drought and fire conditions, are absolutely consistent with the climate change signal,” — Katharine Jacobs, climate scientist, University of Arizona
