US had hottest month on record in July, England's drought worsens
July 2026 was the hottest month ever in the United States, whilst almost three-quarters of England is now in drought.
July 2026 saw the hottest month on record across the contiguous United States. The average temperature for the 48 states, excluding Alaska, Hawaii and overseas territories, was a scorching 76.9°F (24.9°C). This marked a 3.3°F increase over the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous record set in July 1936. Every state in the Lower 48 witnessed temperatures at least 1°F above the 20th-century average, as stated by Russ Vose, chief of monitoring at NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information.
Scientists attribute this extreme heat to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, noting that the record heat aligns with climate change predictions.
Meanwhile, England is grappling with worsening drought conditions. As of July, nearly three-quarters of the country, or 71.3%, is now in a flash drought situation, driven by low rainfall and high temperatures. This brings the total drought-affected population to 45 million, with 27 million under water-use restrictions. England and Wales have recorded their driest July in 190 years, with Southeast England receiving just 1% of its expected rainfall.
Water Minister Emma Hardy announced increased government support, including incentives for farmers to install on-site irrigation reservoirs.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
