July 2026 Breaks Record as Hottest Month in Contiguous US History
July 2026 has officially been recorded as the hottest month in the contiguous United States since records began 132 years ago, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature across the lower 48 states reached 76.9°F (24.9°C), which is 3.3°F (1.8°C) above the 20th-century average. This surpasses the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in July 1936 by 0.8°F (0.4°C). While Alaska experienced cooler-than-average conditions, much of the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast endured oppressive heat. Additionally, the Mid-Atlantic region, including cities like Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, DC, saw their hottest Fourth of July on record. Despite below-average precipitation overall, torrential rainfall caused flash flooding in areas such as eastern New York, which recorded up to 12 inches of rain. 
