The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the contiguous United States recorded an average temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius (74.4 degrees Fahrenheit) from June through August, surpassing previous temperature records. The period was 1.7 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 20th-century average and 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous record set in both 1936 and 2021. August alone marked the hottest month on record with an average temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius (75.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Extreme heat has become an increasingly frequent occurrence in recent years, with four of the five hottest summers in the United States occurring within the past five years. The 1936 record, which preceded the current one, coincided with the Dust Bowl era when extreme heat and drought combined with damaging agricultural practices across the Great Plains. Scientists attribute the broader warming trend largely to fossil fuel combustion.
The summer’s exceptional heat was accompanied by widespread drought conditions. By September 1, approximately 59 percent of the contiguous United States was experiencing drought, representing an increase of more than 10 percentage points over a one-month period. Regions including parts of the Great Plains, Midwest, and South experienced worsened conditions, with Texas and Oklahoma receiving less than 30 percent of their typical August rainfall. However, conditions were not uniformly dry, as states including Indiana and Ohio recorded their wettest August on record, receiving roughly double their usual rainfall.
The World Meteorological Organization cautioned that a strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon could intensify further and potentially become one of the most intense on record, with persistence expected into early 2027. The organization’s chief stated that if current trends continue, the event may exceed anything recorded during the past four decades. While El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern, scientists indicate it can elevate global temperatures on a planet already experiencing warming from fossil fuel emissions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects warmer-than-usual conditions across much of the United States for September, with potential persistence or worsening of drought in several regions. Parts of the Northwest, Midwest, and South face elevated risk for significant wildfires, according to forecasts.
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