Contiguous United States records hottest month in 131 years

The contiguous United States had its hottest July on record in 2026, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average temperature across the Lower 48 states was 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 24.94 degrees Celsius. This was one-eighth of a degree warmer than July 1936, during the Dust Bowl period. Records for this region go back to 1895. Doctors and scientists worry especially about warm nights, because the body needs cooler temperatures to recover during sleep. When nights stay hot, the risk of serious health problems rises. The summer of 1936 and the summer of 2021 are still tied as the hottest full summers on record for the contiguous United States.