US Records Hottest July Ever, Surpassing Dust Bowl Heat

The contiguous United States experienced its hottest July on record in 2026, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature for the 48 contiguous states reached 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius), surpassing a record set during the Dust Bowl era in July 1936 by 0.12°F (0.07°C).

This measurement marks the hottest calendar month in national data dating back to January 1895, as reported by Yale Climate Connections. The heat was widespread, with every contiguous state recording temperatures warmer than average. While only Wyoming had its hottest July on record, nine other states saw top-10 hottest July temperatures.

Broad Temperature Trends and Long-Term Records

The July 2026 peak is part of a larger warming trend across the U.S. According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, the contiguous U.S. average temperature was also the hottest on record for several other timeframes, including the past six months (February-July 2026) and periods spanning 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. The year-to-date period from January to July 2026 ranks as the second-hottest on record nationally, Yale Climate Connections reports.

Regional variations existed outside the contiguous states. Alaska recorded its 20th-coldest July on record and its 30th-coldest period from January to July, according to the NOAA report cited by Yale Climate Connections.

Drought Conditions and Moisture Deficits

High temperatures coincided with significant moisture deficits. July 2026 was the 26th-driest July in the history of the contiguous U.S., and the period from January to July was the 17th-driest, NOAA data shows.

The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), which integrates temperature and precipitation to measure moisture deficits affecting water storage and ecosystems, indicated severe conditions. Six states experienced their most severe July drought on record, and 13 other states saw top-10 worst July drought conditions. Maine recorded a top-10 driest July, according to Yale Climate Connections.

Comparison to the 1930s Dust Bowl

The 2026 record breaks a benchmark established during the 1930s Dust Bowl, a period of extreme heat and ecological disaster. Yale Climate Connections notes that 24 of the 48 contiguous states have not yet exceeded the single hottest individual readings recorded during the 1930s.

Analysis of the Dust Bowl suggests that human activity contributed to that era’s heat. Gerald Meehl of the National Center for Atmospheric Research stated in a 2022 study that the Dust Bowl’s influence was a mechanism arising from human influence, specifically the plowing of the middle third of the U.S. rather than the burning of fossil fuels. This overplowing left the land vulnerable to drought and caused the denuded landscape to heat up more quickly.