Hottest Month on Record in the U.S. Linked to Climate Change

Kensington, Maryland – According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the contiguous United States experienced its hottest month ever in July. The average temperature reached 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius) across the Lower 48 states. This surpassed the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in July 1936 by an eighth of a degree. Temperature records date back to 1895.

Meteorologist Jeff Masters from Yale Climate Connections highlighted the seriousness of surpassing Dust Bowl records. He described the original event as a significant historical migration caused by drought and heat, noting that breaking these records indicates a troubling situation.

While Alaska remained cooler than usual, the Lower 48 states experienced widespread heat. The Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast faced the most extreme temperatures. Russ Vose from NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information reported that every state was at least 1 degree Fahrenheit warmer than the 20th-century average.

During the Dust Bowl, heat mainly concentrated in the Midwest and was worsened by agricultural methods of that time. Currently, the heatwaves align with the burning of coal, oil, and gas, according to scientists like Katharine Jacobs from the University of Arizona. She linked the extreme temperatures and drought conditions to climate change.

NOAA highlighted that the record heat was driven by high nighttime temperatures, surpassing previous records for hottest minimums by 0.7 degrees. Studies from peer-reviewed sources associate increased nighttime temperatures with human-caused climate change.

Meteorologist Masters emphasized the importance of cooling at night for heat stress management, noting that failure to cool results in increased mortality and sleep loss.

Already in 2026, the summer heat is a close contender to the hottest summer of 2021, driven by record June temperatures. Masters underscores the necessity to cut down on fossil fuel consumption and invest in climate adaptation.

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