Millions across the South face a week of feels-like temperatures over 100 degrees, with heat indices reaching 115 degrees in some places as a summer heat wave grips the region.
THE TAKEAWAY
- NOAA announced summer 2026 was the warmest summer on record.
- This summer surpassed the previous record by 0.4 degrees, beating records set in 1936 and 2021.
- According to the FOX Forecast Center, much of the U.S. experienced above-average temperatures throughout the summer.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Wednesday that summer 2026 was the warmest on record for the Lower 48 in 132 years of record-keeping.
RECORD HEAT TAKES AIM AT SOUTHERN PLAINS WITH TEXAS, OKLAHOMA IN THE BULL’S-EYE
This summer surpassed the previous record by 0.4 degrees, beating records set in 1936 and 2021.
August 2026 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles.
(NOAA / FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, much of the U.S. experienced above-average temperatures throughout the summer, with particularly warm nighttime temperatures across the country.
MILLIONS IN THE CENTRAL US EXPECTED TO CONTINUE SIZZLING IN LATE-SUMMER RECORD HEAT THROUGH FRIDAY
Much-above-average nighttime minimum temperatures spanned across most of the U.S. while average daytime maximum temperatures remained close to average across much of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley.
Record-breaking heat was especially seen across the Southwest, with Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado each recording their warmest summer on record.
A man shields himself from the sun while waiting in line to take a photo at the historic Welcome to Las Vegas Sign during a heat wave in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ronda Churchill / AFP / Getty Images)
The extreme heat was particularly noticeable in July, when a life-threatening heat dome settled across the Four Corners and Desert Southwest, sending temperatures soaring into the triple digits in several cities.
Phoenix and Las Vegas were among the hottest cities, reaching 112 and 110 degrees, while Albuquerque climbed to 98 degrees.
But according to the FOX Forecast Center, July wasn’t even the worst of the summer heat.
August 2026 U.S. Mean Temperature Percentiles Map.
(NOAA / FOX Weather)
August 2026 ranked as the warmest Augusts on record, with the average temperature reaching 75.6 degrees for the Lower 48.
Average daytime maximum temperatures reached 88.6 degrees, which was also the warmest on record.
LIFE-THREATENING HEAT DOME STARTS TO EASE UP AFTER BAKING THE WEST WITH TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES
Most of the Lower 48 experienced much-above-average temperatures in August, with near-average conditions confined primarily to parts of the northern Plains and Midwest.
Record-breaking temperatures were reported across the West, Southwest, southern Rockies and southwestern Plains, as well as across the southern Florida Peninsula.
A sign says ‘Extreme Heat Danger’ is seen near the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes with 122-degree temperatures in Death Valley, California.
(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu / Getty Images)
This extreme heat came as another heat dome settled over more than half of the country, bringing prolonged stretches of dangerous temperatures.
Nearly 50 daily record-high temperatures were set across the South. Charleston, South Carolina, reached a heat index of 109 degrees, while Dallas reached 105 degrees for several consecutive days.
WHAT IS A HEAT DOME AND HOW CAN IT AFFECT YOU DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS?
California, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado also recorded their warmest August average temperatures on record.
California and New Mexico additionally recorded their warmest average daytime maximum temperatures on record, while average nighttime minimum temperatures reached record highs in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.
