US Records Hottest Summer in 132 Years Amid Climate Change and El Niño
• The United States has experienced its hottest summer since recordkeeping began 132 years ago, surpassing the previous record set during the Dust Bowl era in 1936 and the summer of
• According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature for meteorological summer (June through August) was 74.4°F (23.6°C), which is 3°F above the 20th-century average. August 2026 alone recorded an average temperature of 75.6°F (24.2°C), 3.5°F above the historical average. The summer was marked by widespread above-average temperatures across the Lower 48 states, driven by powerful heat domes and exacerbated by human-caused climate change and a strengthening El Niño.
Impact & Risks
The record-breaking heat has had significant impacts, particularly in the Southwest, where states like Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado experienced their warmest summers on record. The extreme temperatures have worsened the Colorado River water crisis and led to a stark imbalance in temperature records, with 1,541 monthly highs set or tied nationally compared to just 87 monthly lows. The combination of climate change and El Niño is intensifying heat waves, making them more frequent and long-lasting, which poses risks to public health, agriculture, and water resources.
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