Overview
The United States experienced its hottest summer on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said, with nationwide temperatures for the season exceeding all previous readings in the agency’s archive. NOAA also reported that August established a new record as the hottest August on record.
NOAA’s national climate summaries compare temperature and precipitation averages against a historical record that extends back 132 years to the late 19th century. The agency’s statement identified the June–August period as the warmest summer in that span and flagged August as the single hottest month for the contiguous United States.
The agency compiles its climate assessments from a wide network of observations, including surface weather stations, satellites and other monitoring systems, to produce national- and regional-level analyses. Those analyses are used to track short-term variability as well as longer-term trends in the nation’s climate.
NOAA’s findings add to a series of recent national and global temperature milestones reported by meteorological agencies. Public officials, utilities and health agencies commonly use the agency’s climate data to inform planning and response to extreme heat and other weather-related risks.
The agency’s report serves as the latest benchmark in ongoing monitoring of the nation’s climate; NOAA said its data will be incorporated into longer-term assessments and seasonal outlooks that guide policymakers, researchers and emergency managers.