Summer Solstice Marks Longest Day of the Year in the U.S.
The summer solstice is here, marking the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Here is what you need to know about the summer solstice, along with a look at the latest long-range forecast for the next three months across the U.S.
Understanding the Summer Solstice
The precise moment of the summer solstice varies from year to year within a range of a few days. This year's event falls on Sunday, June 21, across the U.S. and Europe. The moment marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and signifies the official start of astronomical summer.
Conversely, the winter solstice occurs simultaneously for those in the Southern Hemisphere — marking the shortest day of the year and the longest night.
Despite being the longest day of the year, the solstice is not typically the hottest. Most of the U.S. records its warmest readings in late July or early August. Temperatures tend to rise incrementally after the summer solstice as accumulated heat continues to build — the oceans and land absorb solar energy for weeks after the solstice before temperatures peak.
The one region that typically sees its warmest temperatures in June is the extreme Desert Southwest, where the monsoon season that fires up around this time brings increased cloud cover and more frequent precipitation, cooling things down relative to the hottest weeks of May and early June.
What to Expect for Temperatures in the Months Ahead
Multiple long-range forecasting organizations are pointing to a broadly hot summer across the U.S. in 2026, with an El Niño developing and strengthening throughout the season as a key driver of the pattern.
The hottest conditions compared to historical averages are expected to focus on the West and Northwest — California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah are among the states forecast to see the most significant above-normal heat. That warmth extends east into the northern Rockies and portions of the Plains.
Unlike some prior summers, the South and Gulf Coast are not expected to see relief. The Gulf States are forecast to run hotter than average as well, with persistent heat and humidity through the heart of the summer months. Florida and the broader Southeast are also expected to trend above normal overall.
The Northeast and Great Lakes regions should expect a mix of warm-to-hot conditions, with periods of high humidity and scattered thunderstorms — and a potential late surge of heat and higher humidity later in the season.
What the Long-Range Forecast Says About Rain and Drought
The precipitation picture for summer 2026 is more regionally divided than the temperature outlook.
The Desert Southwest is forecast to see an active North American monsoon season, which will bring higher-than-normal rainfall to Arizona and New Mexico — along with a risk of flash flooding and lightning-sparked fires. The Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley are also expected to see above-average rainfall and a heightened flash flood risk, particularly in June and July.
However, conditions are expected to shift as the summer progresses. The Northwest and Northern California are forecast to see significantly below-normal precipitation, fueling expanding drought and an elevated wildfire threat. By late summer, dryness is expected to intensify across the Mid-South, Texas, and into the Midwest, with drought conditions potentially worsening through September.
Severe weather — including tornadoes and derechos — is forecast to be most active from the Plains through the Midwest and Ohio Valley in June and July before shifting eastward later in the season.
Weather changes fast, so help your community stay prepared. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat, and keep your forecast in the now with Weather Forecast Now.