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Hottest summer ever? US breaks longstanding record
usatoday.com • • nation
Key Points:
- The summer of 2026 was the hottest on record for the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 74.4°F, which is 3.0°F above the 20th-century average, breaking previous records from 1936 and 2021.
- July 2026 was the warmest month ever recorded in the U.S., with an average temperature of 76.9°F, surpassing records set in July 1936 and 2012, driven in part by intense heat waves including a severe heat dome over the eastern U.S. during the July 4 holiday.
- Several states in the Colorado River Basin—Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico—broke or tied their records for average summer temperatures amid ongoing drought conditions and historically low water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
- Every state in the lower 48 experienced a summer hotter than its historical average, with 17 states setting records for average minimum nighttime temperatures, highlighting a trend of sustained heat even overnight.
- The extreme heat led to cancellations of public events such as parades and fireworks in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, underscoring the widespread impact of the 2026 summer heat waves across the country.
