NOAA announced that this summer was the hottest on record in the United States.

On September 9, 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released data indicating that the United States experienced its hottest summer since record-keeping began 132 years ago. The agency reported that the average temperature for the contiguous United States during the 2026 summer months reached 74.4 degrees Fahrenheit, effectively exceeding the prior record of 74.0 degrees Fahrenheit that had been set in 1936 and matched in 2021.aljazeera.comaljazeera.comUs Records Hottest Summer in 132 YearsS. during the summer of 2026 was 74.4°F This exceeded the previous record—which was shared by the summers of 1936 and 2021—by 0.4°F According to the agency, four of the five hottest U.S. summers have occurred within the last five yearswashingtonpost.comwashingtonpost.comUs Just Saw its Warmest Summer Record See Where Extreme Heat DominatedS. during the summer of 2026 was 74.4°F This exceeded the previous record—which was shared by the summers of 1936 and 2021—by 0.4°F Nighttime Temperatures: A significant factor contributing to the record-breaking summer was record-warm... The report also highlighted that August 2026 contributed significantly to this overall seasonal milestone.

Researchers noted that elevated nighttime temperatures, which prevented typical cooling, served as a primary driver for the record-breaking figures observed throughout the period.pbs.orgpbs.orgContiguous U S Broke its Record for Hottest Month Ever in July Noaa SaysThis trend of nights that do not cool down is cited by climate scientists as a characteristic sign of human-caused climate changecbsnews.comcbsnews.comUs Hottest Summer on Record 2026 Noaa4°F Nighttime Temperatures: A significant factor contributing to the record-breaking summer was record-warm overnight minimum temperatures