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The U.S. just had its hottest summer on record, NOAA says
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The United States experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, with average temperatures between June and August reaching 74.4°F, surpassing previous records set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 degrees.
- August 2026 was notably hot, with an average temperature of 75.6°F and daytime highs averaging 88.6°F, marking the warmest August on record.
- Much of the contiguous U.S. faced above-average temperatures, especially in the West, Southwest, southern Rockies, and southern Florida, leading to heat waves, wildfires, and declining water reserves.
- Precipitation was below the 20th-century average nationwide, with some states like California experiencing their driest summer since 2002, while others like Indiana and Ohio recorded above-average rainfall.
- Drought conditions expanded to cover 59.1% of the U.S. by early September, spreading further into the central regions, although some areas in the Southwest, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic saw slight drought relief.
