July becomes the hottest month in the US. since records began in 1895

What This is

• NOAA reported July 2026 was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S. in data going back to 1895, narrowly topping the previous record set in July 1936.
• The Lower 48 averaged about 76.9°F for the month, roughly 3.3°F above the 20th-century average.
• Many states saw extreme heat, and NOAA counted hundreds of monthly high-temperature records during July.
• Unusually warm overnight lows were a major driver of the record monthly average and increased overall heat stress by reducing nighttime relief.
• Scientists linked the extreme heat mainly to human-caused climate change from burning coal, oil, and gas, with El Niño also helping raise temperatures.
• July’s heat pattern included repeated heat waves and heat domes, and some reporting said dangerous heat was expected to continue into August.
• The heat worsened drought and fire conditions, with coverage citing large wildfires and elevated wildfire risk across parts of the West and Northwest.

Why This Matters

• A record-hot month is a clear sign of how much the climate is shifting in everyday terms, not just in long-term averages.
• Hotter nights remove the body’s chance to cool down, which raises the risk of heat illness and makes extreme heat harder to escape, especially for people without reliable air conditioning.
• Heat-driven drought and wildfire risk can disrupt water supplies, power systems, travel, and outdoor work, turning heat into a broader public-safety and economic strain.
• Attribution to fossil-fuel-driven warming and El Niño shapes the political debate over whether to focus on cutting emissions, adapting to heat, or both.