The Sweat Isn’t Over Yet: Record Heat Set to Scorch America Straight Into Autumn (Video)

The extreme record-breaking heat is expected to stay in place across the U.S. as the summer continues and we head into the Fall, following a July that was the hottest month ever on record.

AccuWeather expert meteorologists are forecasting widespread temperatures above the historical average across the country through at least September.

“When you look at our long-range maps, there are few places in the U.S. that will dodge temperatures above the historical average throughout the end of summer,” said AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok. “This is especially true in August where the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley will see an upper-level high bringing high temperatures near or above 100 degrees.”

AccuWeather Fall Forecast: Heat will continue to be a key element of the U.S. Fall forecast in many parts of the country. In the northwest, it will be a key contributor and driver for wildfire which will continue to carry a significant risk throughout the fall.

July Was the Hottest Month Ever in the U.S.

With an average temperature of 76.9 degrees, July was the hottest month in the U.S. since recordkeeping began in 1895. This surpasses the previous mark set in 1936 during the Dust Bowl. Heat and other effects of the Dust Bowl were more concentrated across the Great Plains than the widespread heat experienced across the entire U.S. in 2026, still both share a key factor: extreme drought.

“There should be really no surprise that July broke a record,” Pastelok added. “Low snow pack in the Southwest and mid-Atlantic this past winter led to poor soil conditions into the spring, then a lack of replenishing rainfall in these regions through June and early July allowed temperatures to climb even higher than they otherwise would have.”

The July Record was Not Driven by Daytime Temperatures Alone

Overnight temperatures were also the warmest on record, offering less relief after sunset during prolonged stretches of heat. On July 24, Phoenix (97°F) tied its warmest night on record, while on July 14 Marquette, Michigan (76°F) surpassed its warmest night by 2 degrees.

A number of cities across the U.S. set all-time record daytime highs in July, including Billings, MT (111°F), and Salt Lake City, UT (109°F), while on the east coast, Atlantic City, NJ (106°F) tied its all-time high during the Fourth of July heat dome that started the month.

The Extreme Heat is Part of a Larger Pattern

A record hot July continues a rising pattern of temperatures in the United States. AccuWeather’s climate study released in January found temperatures have increased an average of 0.5°F per decade in the contiguous U.S. over the last 70 years. 2024 ranked as the hottest year on record in the United States.

“Record heat remains rare, but it is happening more frequently,” said AccuWeather expert meteorologist Tyler Roys. “As average temperatures rise, the baseline that these extremes build from is getting warmer. That means it doesn’t take as much for a period of extreme heat to push temperatures into record territory.”

Since 2000, each calendar month’s hottest or second-hottest occurrence on record was recorded, and 7 of the 12 monthly heat records have happened since 2006.

Heat Reshaped America 250, the World Cup and Drove Energy Consumption

July’s heat began as the U.S. began celebrating its 250th birthday, forcing organizers to alter or cancel Fourth of July events in several cities. In Philadelphia, extreme heat led to the cancellation of the Salute to Independence Day Parade, and changes to other America 250 celebrations. The heat also became a major storyline for the World Cup, where players and fans across U.S. host cities faced intense heat and humidity during the tournament.

The heat was also felt on many Americans’ wallets. On July 21 and 22 a Texas non-profit corporation that oversees power transmission reported record energy usage in back-to-back days. According to reports, a similar demand was seen across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, where electricity demand climbed to near-record levels during the July heat.