July 2026 Was Hottest Month On Record For Contiguous U.S.
On Monday, August 10, 2026, NOAA confirmed that July 2026 averaged 76.89°F across the contiguous United States, breaking the nation's all-time monthly temperature record.[1]
NOAA said the new average edged past July 1936 by about one-eighth of a degree.[1] The agency said the record was driven largely by high nighttime lows; the average July low across the Lower 48 was 64.2°F, 0.7°F above the previous July low record.[1]
NOAA said unusually hot conditions covered most of the Lower 48, with the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast seeing the worst heat.[1] A heat wave beginning in early July put more than 185 million people under heat alerts and forced cancellations or postponements of some July 4 events, including Washington's Independence Day parade.[2] Salt Lake City reached an all-time high of 109°F on July 12, and July was the third driest on record for the contiguous U.S., with about 48.5% of the Lower 48 in drought as of August 4.[2] Dry, warm weather helped fuel wildfires that burned more than 140,000 acres in eastern Oregon during July.[2]
Initial reporting focused on the raw magnitude of the record and comparisons to past hot months.[3] Later coverage, led by PBS and others, placed the month in a climate context, highlighting scientist statements that hotter nights are a classic signal of human-caused warming and warning of long-term risk.[1]
The World Meteorological Organization said July 2026 was the joint second-warmest July on record globally and warned that a developing El Nino is likely to drive above-normal global temperatures over the next three months.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 10, 2026, NOAA confirmed that July 2026 averaged 76.89°F (24.94°C) across the contiguous U.S., surpassing July 1936 by about one‑eighth of a degree and setting a new all‑time monthly record.
- The record was driven largely by record‑high nighttime lows: the nationwide July minimum‑temperature record was broken by 0.7°F and the average July low across the contiguous U.S. was 64.2°F, breaking the previous July low record by 0.7°F.
- NOAA said unusually hot conditions covered most of the Lower 48, with the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast seeing the most excessive heat, while Russ Vose noted every Lower 48 state was at least 1°F warmer than its 20th‑century July average and Alaska was unusually cool.
- A heat wave beginning in early July put more than 185 million people under heat alerts, led to canceled or postponed July 4 events including Washington, D.C.'s Independence Day parade, and produced local records such as Salt Lake City's 109°F on July 12.
- July 2026 was the third driest July on record for the contiguous U.S.; as of August 4, 2026 about 48.5% of the Lower 48 was in drought, more than two‑thirds of Puerto Rico was in drought with San Juan starting water rationing, and dry, warm weather helped fuel wildfires that burned over 140,000 acres in eastern Oregon.
- The World Meteorological Organization said July 2026 was the joint second‑warmest July on record globally, warned that a developing El Niño is expected to drive above‑normal global temperatures over the next three months, and urged governments to anticipate risks.
- Scientists emphasized the climate link: hotter nights are a classic indicator of human‑caused climate change; climate scientist Katharine Jacobs said this summer's extreme heat, drought and fires are 'absolutely consistent with the climate change signal,' and meteorologist Jeff Masters warned that breaking Dust Bowl‑era records signals severe long‑term risk.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- NOAA confirmed that July 2026 averaged 76.89°F (24.94°C) across the contiguous United States, surpassing July 1936 by one-eighth of a degree, in data released and reported on August 10, 2026.
- NOAA's Russ Vose said every one of the Lower 48 states was at least 1°F warmer than its 20th‑century July average, with the most excessive heat in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast.
- The article emphasizes that the largest driver of the new record was nighttime lows, with the nationwide record for hottest minimum temperatures broken by 0.7°F.
- Climate scientist Katharine Jacobs stated that the extremely high temperatures, drought and fire conditions across the continental U.S. this summer are "absolutely consistent with the climate change signal."
- Meteorologist Jeff Masters highlighted that breaking Dust Bowl-era records indicates "we're in deep trouble" and argued that this may be one of the coolest years people experience for the rest of their lives without major fossil-fuel cuts.
- The article notes Alaska was unusually cool in July 2026 even as hotter‑than‑normal conditions blanketed the Lower 48.
- The story reiterates that the hottest U.S. summers on record are 2021 and 1936 (June–August), and that through July, summer 2026 is slightly cooler than 2021 because of that year's very hot June.
- NOAA said on Monday, August 10, 2026, that July 2026 average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 76.9°F, slightly rounding the previously reported 76.89°F figure.
- NOAA specified that several locations in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana set all‑time high temperature records in July 2026, based on data dating to 1895.
- NOAA reported that July 2026 was 0.1 to 0.2°F warmer than both July 1936 and July 2012, refining the margin over prior record months.
- NOAA said the average July low temperature across the contiguous U.S. was 64.2°F, breaking the previous July 2022 record by 0.7°F.
- A heat wave beginning in early July 2026 put more than 185 million people under heat alerts, including residents of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
- The Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C., was among several July 4 events that were canceled or postponed due to extreme heat.
- Salt Lake City, Utah, reached an all‑time high temperature of 109°F on July 12, 2026, according to the National Weather Service.
- NOAA said U.S. precipitation in July 2026 ranked as the third driest July on record for the contiguous U.S., even as heavy rain caused major floods in the Texas Hill Country and eastern New York.
- As of August 4, 2026, about 48.5% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, and more than two‑thirds of Puerto Rico was in drought, with San Juan and neighboring communities starting water rationing.
- Dry, warm weather in the interior West, Southwest and Rockies fueled July wildfires, including more than 140,000 acres burned in eastern Oregon that month, NOAA reported.
- The World Meteorological Organization said July 2026 was the joint second‑warmest July on record globally and warned that El Niño is expected to drive above‑normal global temperatures over the next three months.
- WMO Secretary‑General Celeste Saulo said the developing El Niño on top of unprecedented ocean heat provides governments and communities a window to anticipate risks and act before impacts unfold.
- NOAA’s July 2026 average temperature figure for the contiguous U.S. is 76.89°F (24.94°C), which exceeds July 1936 by one-eighth of a degree, confirming the new all-time record.
- The article specifies that the record was driven largely by record-high nighttime low temperatures, with July minimums surpassing the previous record by 0.7°F.
- NOAA highlights that unusually hot conditions covered most of the Lower 48, with the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast seeing the most excessive heat, while Alaska was unusually cool.
- Scientists emphasize that hotter nights are a classic indicator of human-caused climate change, reinforcing the interpretation of the July 2026 record.