The contiguous United States just endured its hottest month since records began in 1895, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature across the lower 48 states and Washington, D.C., reached 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit, edging out the previous records set in July 1936 and July 2012 by a slim margin of 0.1 to 0.2 degrees.
The heat was most pronounced at night. Overnight lows averaged 64.2 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 3.7 degrees above the long-term average and the warmest nighttime reading for any month in the agency's 130-year dataset. That figure also surpassed the previous record set in July 2022 by 0.7 degrees. Climate scientists at Climate Central, using data from 1970 to 2024, have linked this trend to human-caused climate change, which traps heat and prevents overnight cooling.
Daytime highs were also notable, though not record-breaking. Average maximum temperatures hit 89.5 degrees Fahrenheit, ranking as the sixth-warmest daytime reading for any month on record.
The heat was widespread but particularly intense across the interior West, Southwest, Rockies, northern Plains, upper Midwest, and parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Thirteen states logged one of their five warmest Julys, and Wyoming set an all-time monthly record, coming in 0.9 degrees above its previous hottest month. Meanwhile, Alaska was actually cooler than its 1925–2000 average by 0.9 degrees, and Hawaii ran 0.6 degrees above its 1991–2020 norm.
The scorching conditions were accompanied by below-average precipitation in many regions, including the northern Rockies, northern Plains, upper Midwest, Northeast, southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, Central Gulf, and Southeast. However, parts of the West, Southwest, central Plains, and upper Midwest saw above-average rainfall. As of last Tuesday, nearly half of the lower 48 states and D.C.—about 48.5 percent—were in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with more than two-thirds of Puerto Rico also experiencing drought conditions.
The new NOAA figures come as the Trump administration continues to roll back climate-related regulations. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed easing pollution standards for heavy-duty trucks, arguing it would reduce compliance costs for manufacturers. An EPA spokesperson, when asked about the NOAA data, directed questions to the previous administration, declining further comment.
The record heat has reignited debate over federal climate policy, with environmental advocates pointing to the data as evidence of the need for stronger action. Meanwhile, the administration has repeatedly downplayed the role of greenhouse gas emissions in driving extreme weather, a stance that has drawn criticism from scientists and some lawmakers.
As the summer draws to a close, the NOAA data serves as a stark reminder of the accelerating pace of climate change and its tangible impacts on American communities, from strained power grids to agricultural losses and water shortages.
