July was hottest month ever recorded in US as heatwaves scorched country
July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States, surpassing records dating back to 1895. Scientists attribute the extreme heatwaves to the ongoing climate crisis driven by fossil fuel combustion.
Why it matters
The data underscores the accelerating impact of climate change on extreme weather patterns and public health in the US.
People cool off with water from an open fire hydrant during a heat wave on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, on 2 July 2026. via Getty Images People cool off with water from an open fire hydrant during a heat wave on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, on 2 July 2026. via Getty Images US weather July was hottest month ever recorded in US as heatwaves scorched country Scientists have made clear that the elevated heat in the US was being amplified by the human-caused climate crisis
Prefer the Guardian on Google July was the hottest month ever recorded in the US, with repeated, scorching heatwaves across much of the country helping shatter all previous monthly temperature records stretching back over the full 132 years of reliable measurements.
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