US records hottest month ever in July 2026 due to climate change

July 2026 officially became the hottest month recorded in the contiguous United States, continuing a trend of rising temperatures fueled by human-caused climate change. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the average temperature across the 48 states reached 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit (24.9 Celsius).

This figure surpasses the previous record set in July 1936, when the average temperature was 76.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The NOAA's climate records, spanning 132 years, indicate that July 2026 was not only the hottest July but also the hottest single month ever recorded by the agency.

Above-average temperatures were observed in various regions, including the inland West, Southwest, Rockies, northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Wyoming experienced its hottest July and hottest single month on record, with temperatures 5.1 degrees Fahrenheit above average. The persistent warming trend is overwhelmingly attributed to the ongoing effects of burning fossil fuels.