July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, NOAA confirms

More than 600 monthly records for highest maximum and highest minimum temperatures were set across the Lower 48 states in July, while fewer than 50 monthly records were set on the cool side, according to NOAA. The ratio of high-temperature records to cool records — better than 12 to 1 — underscores how unusual the heat was across the country.

How July compared to the historical average

The month's average temperature across the contiguous United States was 3.0 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 degrees Celsius) above the twentieth-century average, NOAA reported. Every state recorded above-average temperatures, with the Southwest and parts of the Mid-Atlantic experiencing the most extreme departures from normal.

The high nighttime temperatures were particularly notable, with stations from coast to coast setting new records for warmest minimum temperatures. Overnight lows matter for public health because they give the body little chance to recover from daytime heat, and heat-related illness typically rises when nights stay warm.

Global context and El Niño

NOAA's findings come against a backdrop of broader global heat. Western Europe, much of Asia and parts of North Africa also experienced above-average temperatures in July, part of a pattern that researchers have linked in part to El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific during late 2025 and 2026.

Federal and state agencies urged residents to take precautions during the heat waves, including checking on elderly neighbors, limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours and using cooling centers where available. Power grids in several regions operated under elevated demand as air conditioning use surged.

How NOAA measures US temperature

The data feeding NOAA's monthly summary comes from land-based weather stations maintained by the National Weather Service and partner networks. The agency has tracked contiguous US temperatures in a consistent format since 1895, which climate scientists consider the standard baseline for modern US climate records.

The article was translated from English by an AP editor with the assistance of a generative artificial intelligence tool, according to the Associated Press.

The July record is the latest in a series of climate milestones that have drawn renewed attention to heat resilience planning in US cities. Local governments have expanded cooling-center networks in recent summers, and utilities have reported rising peak electricity demand tied to air conditioning.

NOAA's monthly climate report is one of the most widely cited benchmarks for tracking US temperature trends, and the agency updates its historical rankings as new data is quality-checked. The contiguous United States — the "Lower 48" — is the area covered by the 1895 baseline, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, which have separate climate records.