The U.S. Just Had Its Hottest Summer on Record, Beating the Dust Bowl Era

July 2026 became the hottest month ever recorded for the contiguous United States, surpassing the previous record set during the Dust Bowl in July 1936. The heat arrived alongside severe drought, widespread wildfires, and dangerous smoke pollution. NOAA data showed six states experienced their driest July on record, while 13 others ranked among the ten worst. More than 6.3 million acres had burned by early August, making 2026 one of the country’s most destructive wildfire seasons in recent years nationwide