July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States, according to data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency reported that temperature records for the country date back to 1895.
The findings follow a month marked by persistent heat domes—weather patterns where the jet stream traps hot air over a specific region—affecting areas from the East Coast to the Southwest. NOAA attributed the record temperatures to a combination of long-term climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, natural weather variability, and a developing El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the report, the average temperature across the Lower 48 states in July was 3.3 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. This surpassed the previous record-holders, July 1936 and July 2012, by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 degrees. While July is typically the warmest month in the U.S., NOAA noted that over 600 monthly maximum and minimum temperature records were set, compared to fewer than 50 record lows.
On a broader scale, the heat contributed to the rapid spread of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. In Spokane, Washington, a complex of three fires fueled by hot, dry, and windy conditions damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and structures during the first week of August. The data from Climate Central shows that this warming trend is a long-term shift; in 229 U.S. cities, July temperatures have risen by an average of 2.6 degrees since 1970. For a typical household, these shifts may manifest as higher energy demands for cooling or increased risks from wildfire smoke and water usage restrictions.
The environmental conditions are also influencing global patterns and future policy considerations. Europe is currently experiencing its hottest summer on record, with wildfires affecting Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the continuation of extreme weather into August has led to further blazes in Washington and Oregon. As El Niño continues to intensify, it may further elevate global air and sea temperatures. Monitoring by NOAA and the Copernicus Climate Change Service will continue as the summer season progresses and the full impact on water infrastructure and disaster response resources is assessed.