July heat produced warmest month on record in US

Key Points:

• July 2026 was the warmest month on record in the U.S., with an average temperature of 76.9°F, surpassing previous records from 1936 and 2012, driven by intense heat waves and unusually high overnight temperatures.
• Wyoming experienced its warmest July and warmest month ever, with temperatures up to 10 degrees above normal, prompting increased use of air conditioning to cope with the heat.
• Over 200 all-time temperature records were broken across the contiguous U.S., with every state recording above-average July temperatures, while rainfall was generally below average, contributing to dry conditions and ongoing wildfire risks.
• Globally, sea surface temperatures outside polar regions reached record highs due to strengthening El Niño conditions, leading to widespread marine heat waves and record warmth in Western Europe, which also experienced exceptionally low river flows.
• The El Niño phenomenon continues to intensify, influencing climate patterns by increasing Pacific tropical storm activity and suppressing Atlantic storms due to wind shear, with ocean temperatures expected to keep rising throughout the year.