Map Shows States Hit With Above-Average Temperatures This Year
Summary
New data from NOAA shows that many U.S. states experienced much higher-than-normal temperatures in 2026, especially in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains. The year is on track to be one of the hottest recorded for the lower 48 states, with August and the summer being the warmest on record.Key Facts
- Temperatures in states like Wyoming, Arizona, and Texas rose more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit above average through August 2026.
- Wyoming’s city of Lander recorded the highest temperature departure, 5.4°F above the 1991-2020 average.
- Arizona’s Phoenix and Texas’s Amarillo also had large departures of about 5.2°F above normal.
- The Southwest and Rocky Mountain states showed the most extreme warmth, while the Northeast states stayed closer to their normal temperatures.
- 2026’s warm conditions are linked to a strong "Super El Niño," which affects global weather and temperatures.
- NOAA reported the contiguous U.S. had its warmest August and hottest meteorological summer (June-August) on record.
- The period from January to August 2026 was the warmest on record in the 132-year history for the lower 48 states.
- Drought spread over much of the country during this unusually warm year.
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