July 2026 Becomes Hottest Month in U.S. History
• July 2026 has officially been recorded as the hottest month in U.S. history since temperature records began in 1895, according to NOAA (CNN, 2026). The average temperature across the contiguous United States was 3.3°F (1.8°C) above the 20th-century average, surpassing previous records set in July 1936 and July
• Heat domes, which trap hot air, were a dominant feature, leading to extreme heat across the East Coast, Plains, and Southwestern states. Wyoming experienced its hottest July and hottest month ever recorded. Over 600 monthly records for maximum and minimum temperatures were broken nationwide. The extreme heat also contributed to large wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, while Europe faced its hottest summer on record.
Impact & Risks
The record-breaking heat has had widespread impacts, including increased wildfire activity in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, as well as drought conditions in the Southwest. Cities like Denver and Salt Lake City experienced their warmest Julys, while others, including Miami and Los Angeles, ranked in their top five warmest months. The heat has strained water resources, with Lake Mead hitting a record low. Human-caused climate change and a developing El Niño event are intensifying these conditions, making heat waves more frequent and severe.
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