July 2026 Becomes Hottest Month on Record in U.S. History
July 2026 set a new record as the warmest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 76.9°F—3.3 degrees above the 20th-century average and surpassing the previous record from 1936.
What Happened
July 2026 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 76.9°F (24.9°C), making it the warmest month of any kind in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 132-year record. The temperature was 3.3°F above the 20th-century average and broke the previous record for the hottest month, July 1936, which was 76.8°F.
Above-average temperatures were observed across the interior West, Southwest, Rockies, northern Plains and Upper Midwest, as well as parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast. The milestone came amid a month chock-full of extreme weather events that hit nearly every corner of the country, including heat waves, drought, severe storms, flooding and wildfires.
What This Means
Human-caused climate change, due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels, looms large over the trend. July featured a series of "heat domes" across the country that trapped warm air beneath them, fueling several extreme heat events.
If you are relocating to the U.S. or planning to settle here, this data is important for practical planning: expect higher air conditioning costs in many regions, particularly the West, Southwest, and parts of the Midwest. Insurance premiums and utility costs may increase in states hit hardest by heat and related disasters. When choosing where to live or what lease to sign, consider climate resilience and local infrastructure capacity. Remote work during heat waves may become more common in vulnerable areas. Communities are adapting water management and emergency response plans—worth understanding before you move to a new region.
Sources
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