US Heatwave: July 2026 Sets New Record As Hottest Month Ever Recorded

July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, with prolonged heat domes pushing temperatures to record levels across large parts of the country, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency said the average temperature in the Lower 48 states reached 76.9°F, or 3.3°F above the 20th-century average.

The temperature was about 0.1 to 0.2°F higher than the previous July records set in 1936 and 2012. NOAA's temperature records for the contiguous US date to 1895, making July 2026 the warmest month in the 132-year record. El Niño Officially Begins As US Scientists Warn of Potentially Record-Breaking Global Heat.

Heat Spread Across the US

Above-average temperatures covered the entire Lower 48 during July. Thirteen states recorded one of their five warmest Julys, while Wyoming experienced its hottest July and hottest month of any kind on record. No state ranked near or below average for the month, NOAA said.

More than 600 monthly records for highest maximum and minimum temperatures were set across the US during July, while fewer than 50 monthly records were set on the cool side. What Is El Nino and How Does It Affect Weather?

Cities including Denver and Salt Lake City recorded their warmest Julys. Miami, Los Angeles and Minneapolis were among other cities that experienced a top-five warmest July.

Heat Domes Drive Prolonged Heat

A defining feature of July's weather was a series of heat domes that developed across different parts of the country as the jet stream shifted.

A heat dome acts like a lid, trapping hot air near the surface and allowing temperatures to build over several days. The jet stream, a narrow band of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere, helps steer weather systems and influences where such heat patterns develop.

The US experienced a major heat wave across the eastern half of the country around the July 4 holiday weekend, followed by additional rounds of extreme heat.

Climate Change Intensifies Heat Waves

Scientists say long-term, human-caused climate change is making heat waves more intense, longer-lasting and more frequent.

July's pattern of extreme heat also reflects a broader warming trend. According to Climate Central, July temperatures in 229 US cities have risen by an average of 2.6°F since 1970, with some of the fastest warming occurring in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.

The imbalance between hot and cold records is another indicator of the changing climate. More than 600 monthly heat records were recorded in July, compared with fewer than 50 monthly records on the cool side.

El Niño Also Emerging as a Factor

A rapidly strengthening El Niño event in the tropical Pacific is also beginning to influence global sea and air temperatures and may have contributed to higher temperatures in the US during July.

However, individual heat waves were more closely linked to the combination of long-term climate change and natural variations in weather patterns, rather than El Niño alone.

Wildfires Add to Extreme Weather

The extreme heat came alongside dangerous wildfire conditions across parts of North America.

By the end of July, large wildfires were burning in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. The pattern continued into August, with major fires reported in Washington and Oregon.

In Spokane, Washington, a complex of three wildfires damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures last week amid hot, dry and windy conditions that helped the fires spread rapidly.

Lake Mead Hits Record Low

Extreme heat and drought have also affected water supplies in the US Southwest.

Lake Mead, the country's largest reservoir, reached a record-low level last week after a combination of extreme heat, drought and limited winter snowfall.

The reservoir supplies water to about 20 million people across several Southwestern states, making the continuing decline a significant concern for the region.

Extreme Heat Extends Beyond US

The July heat was not limited to the United States. Europe also experienced multiple heat waves, with wildfires affecting countries including Spain, France, the UK and Greece.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service said Western Europe experienced its hottest first two months of summer on record so far.

The continued heat and wildfire activity across North America and Europe have extended the pattern of extreme weather into August, underscoring the growing impact of persistent high temperatures during the summer season.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 11:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).