Record Heat and Wildfires Persist Across U.S. and Europe
The summer of 2026 has brought record-breaking heat across the United States, Europe, and Canada. Rapid City, South Dakota, reached an all-time high of 112°F (44.4°C) on July 25, while Denver, Colorado, experienced back-to-back triple-digit days, including a record-setting 103°F (39.4°C) on July 26. The Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-average temperatures through October, exacerbated by a strengthening super El Niño. Wildfires are raging across multiple regions, including Utah, Colorado, and Canada, with smoke plumes affecting air quality in the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic.