US summer heat shatters record

In July 2026, the United States experienced its hottest summer on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature for the contiguous US states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, was 74.4°F (23.6°C), surpassing the previous record set in 1936 and 2021 by a mere 0.4°F. This data indicates that four of the hottest summers on record have occurred within the past five years, with 2022 and 2024 ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.

Human-caused climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, played a significant role in this trend. Moreover, August 2026 marked the warmest August since records began in 1895, with average temperatures reaching 75.6°F. Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University, noted that the situation is unfolding exactly as scientists forecast decades ago.

The current El Nino pattern, already at an intense level, could push 2026 past 2024 as the hottest year on record. However, climatologist Michael Mann believes that the issue can be prevented if there is sufficient political will to halt carbon emissions and transition to clean energy.