July Becomes Hottest Month on Record in U.S. as Average Temperature Tops Previous Highs

July was the hottest month recorded in the contiguous United States since federal temperature records began in 1895, with the average running 3.3 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century norm, according to NOAA.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

July became the hottest month ever recorded across the Lower 48 states, surpassing previous temperature records that had stood since 1936 and 2012, according to data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA, whose national temperature records extend back to 1895, reported that the average July temperature across the contiguous United States was 3.3 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average.

The month narrowly surpassed the previous July records, finishing approximately 0.1 to 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than July 1936 and July 2012.

Much of the country experienced prolonged periods of extreme heat during the month, including persistent heat domes that produced record-high temperatures from the East Coast through the Plains and into the Southwest.

The intense summer conditions also coincided with large wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

The United States was not alone in experiencing unusually high summer temperatures. Europe is also having its hottest summer on record, according to CNN.

NOAA’s latest figures place July 2026 at the top of more than 130 years of U.S. temperature records, making it the hottest month measured nationally since recordkeeping began.