Record-Breaking Heat Wave to Persist Across the U.S. Through Mid-August
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast above-normal temperatures across much of the United States through mid-August 2026 (USA Today, 2026-08-01). A heat wave is expected to bring temperatures ranging from 110°F to 120°F (43°C to 49°C) to the Southwest on August 1 and 2, before expanding northward into Colorado, Utah, and Montana, where temperatures could reach the 100s (37°C+). The heat is expected to persist across the West, Central, and East Central U.S. through the first week of August, with warmer-than-average conditions also predicted for the Ohio Valley, Appalachians, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions from August 5 to 11. Relief is anticipated later in the month, with more seasonable weather expected in the Northeast (NOAA Climate Prediction Center, 2026-08-01). 
