United States Records Hottest Summer in 132 Years, According to NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the United States experienced its hottest summer on record, with August also setting a new heat record. From June through August, the average temperature across the contiguous US was 23.6 degrees Celsius (74.4 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 1.7 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 20th-century average and 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the previous record set in 1936 and 2021. This summer marks the hottest in the 132 years of NOAA weather record-keeping. August recorded an average temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius (75.6 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the hottest August on record. NOAA noted that four of the five hottest summers in the US have occurred in the past five years, reflecting a broader warming trend attributed largely to fossil fuel combustion. By September 1, approximately 59 percent of the contiguous US was experiencing drought, an increase of over 10 percentage points in one month. Regions such as Texas and Oklahoma received less than 30 percent of their usual August rainfall, while states like Indiana and Ohio recorded their wettest August on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicated that the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon could become one of the most intense on record and is expected to persist into early 2027. WMO chief Celeste Saulo stated that if the current trajectory continues, it may exceed anything recorded in the past four decades. El Nino is a natural climate pattern that can elevate global temperatures, exacerbating the effects of climate change. NOAA anticipates a warmer-than-usual September across much of the country, with the potential for drought conditions to persist or worsen in several regions, and an increased risk of significant wildfires in parts of the Northwest, Midwest, and South.