The United States just endured its hottest month on record, with July 2026 shattering all previous temperature benchmarks in 132 years of official data. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), last month's average temperature across the contiguous US was 3.3F (1.8C) higher than the 20th-century average, making it the warmest July and the warmest month ever recorded since records began in 1895.
Records broken across the board
This unprecedented heat surpasses the previous highs set in July 1936 during the Dust Bowl and July 2012. The entire month was marked by three separate heat dome events, where high-pressure systems trapped scorching air over large regions. Noaa reported extreme heat across the US west, the Rockies, the upper midwest, the Gulf coast, and the southeast. Wyoming experienced its hottest July ever, with temperatures soaring 5.1F above average.
Meanwhile, wildfire smoke blanketed parts of the country as massive blazes tore through forests in Canada and the Pacific northwest. Scientists have consistently linked these elevated temperatures and vast fires to the human-caused climate crisis, driven by fossil fuel combustion.
Widespread impacts on Americans
The heat has taken a significant toll on daily life. An AP-NORC poll released last week reveals that nearly half of Americans reported a "major" impact on their electricity bills as they crank up air conditioning. About 40% said the heat altered their travel plans, and two-thirds noted that extreme heat disrupted their families' outdoor activities. Half of respondents said their exercise routines were hampered. These impacts are more widespread than when the same questions were asked two years ago, according to the poll.
Political and global context
Despite the unfolding consequences, President Donald Trump has continued to push for expanded fossil fuel production and has dismissed climate science as "bullshit" and a "con job" in the past. His administration has sought to encourage other nations to burn more coal, oil, and gas, which are the primary drivers of rising global temperatures.
Globally, an unusually strong El Niño event is likely to make next year the hottest on record, surpassing the record set in 2024. Some scientists even predict that 2026 could break that record sooner. "The bottom line, though, is that we expect to set record global temperatures as long as carbon emissions continue to warm the planet, and typically these records are set during major El Niño events," said Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania.
As the US and Europe face their hottest summers on record, the need for urgent climate action becomes ever more critical. The July heat record serves as a stark reminder of the accelerating climate crisis and its direct impact on people's lives.
