Summer 2026 has officially been recorded as the hottest season on file for the United States, surpassing all previous measurements dating back at least 132 years. According to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), average temperatures during the June-through-August period climbed 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.67 degrees Celsius) above the long-term norm. This significant margin exceeded the prior record set in 2021, which saw temperatures just 0.4 degrees F (0.22 degrees C) above average.
The heatwave extended into August, which NOAA identified as the warmest August ever documented in the country. Temperatures during that month averaged 75.6 degrees F (24.2 degrees C), sitting 3.5 degrees F (1.94 degrees C) higher than historical averages. The extreme heat was particularly intense across the Southwest, southern Florida, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and the southern Rocky Mountains.
Beyond temperature, the summer was marked by severe dryness. The contiguous United States experienced its third-driest summer since records began and the driest season since 2000, with precipitation levels falling 0.32 inches (0.8 centimeters) below the average. By September 1, more than half of the nation was grappling with drought conditions, affecting the West, the upper Midwest, and the Deep South. Puerto Rico also faced significant hardship, with over 75% of the island in drought and 40% classified as experiencing “extreme drought.”
132 years of data and we just broke the record by a full degree. The 2021 margin was tiny compared to this jump. Scary consistency.
Wait, third-driest summer too? I remember the monsoons being weak this year. Does anyone know if wildfire season will be worse than usual?
Three degrees above normal is terrifying. August being the warmest on record makes this feel personal, not just statistical.