The U.S. Hasn't Been This Hot Since Record-Keeping Began in 1895

There is no doubt that the month of July was a scorcher for most of the U.S. Unfortunately for those weary of the heat, the record high temperatures that rippled across the country last month are simply a sign of a hotter climate overall.

Hottest July on the Record Books

A series of potent heat domes set up over much of the U.S in July, sending the mercury soaring to record levels. The Lower 48 eclipsed a benchmark that had been in place since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), temperatures across the contiguous U.S. averaged 76.9 degrees, good enough to make it the hottest month since record-keeping started in 1895.

The average daily highs for the month came in at 0.1-0.2 degrees hotter than the previous record years in 1936 and 2012. In addition, the data showed that overnight readings throughout the Lower 48 were also the highest ever in recorded history, bottoming out with an average of 64.2 degrees.

The similarities between 2026 and the 1936 Dust Bowl cannot be ignored. Like 2026, 1936 also saw a pervasive drought that amplified the heat. As such, it is not a surprise that this year shattered long-standing records.

Low snowpack totals across both the Southwest and the mid-Atlantic translated to dry soil conditions heading into the spring months. The drought was exacerbated by the lack of moisture in June and July, paving the way for temperatures to reach even higher levels.

Heat Domes Infiltrate the U.S.

July was distinguished by several heat domes that refused to budge. Nobody will soon forget the extreme heat that spread across the central and eastern U.S. in the days surrounding the Fourth of July. As the nation gathered to celebrate its 250th birthday, Washington, D.C. tied the record for its hottest night in more than 150 years with an overnight low of 84 degrees.

Moving farther north, Atlantic City, New Jersey saw temperatures climb to 106 degrees over the holiday weekend. This reading was hot enough to tie the all-time record high for the beach community.

A second heat dome set up over the Midwest and into the East the following week. Even the normally temperate interior West got in on this heat. Billings, Montana, sweltered with a top reading of 111 degrees, while Salt Lake City hit 109 degrees.

The heat shifted to the Southwest and interior portions of California by the end of the month. Phoenix notched one of its warmest overnight temperatures ever when the mercury only dropped to 97 degrees on July 24.

Every state in the U.S. came in at least 1 degree above the 20th-century average for July. Additionally, 13 states ranked in their top five warmest July months ever recorded. Wyoming saw the greatest departure from normal, averaging 6.3 degrees above the historical average.

The uptick in temperatures corresponded with increasing drought conditions for much of the nation. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions were in place across 48.5% of the Lower 48 as of August 4. The greatest degree of drought is happening across the interior West, the Desert Southwest, the Rockies, the Northwest, the Plains states, the Upper Midwest, and the far corner of the Northeast.

The July heat is a continuation of the warming trend that has been enveloping the U.S. over the last several years. The long-range forecast is calling for the atypically high readings to persist through August and September.

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