# Global and US extreme heat records

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-us-extreme-heat-records
> Updated: 2026-08-12T12:07:14.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Global temperature records have been broken, with July being identified as the second hottest July on record worldwide. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates average surface air temperatures were 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages.

In the United States, the contiguous states recorded their hottest July in history, surpassing the 1936 Dust Bowl benchmarks. This extreme heat was driven by conditions across the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast, and was accompanied by heat dome events, massive wildfires, and severe air quality degradation.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period ever recorded. Countries including France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom reported extremely low precipitation and soil moisture levels. Experts attribute these global and regional trends to the combined effects of long-term warming and stationary high-pressure systems.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: World records second hottest July on record

The WMO reports July was the second hottest July on record, with global temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, driving extreme heat and droughts across the Northern Hemisphere.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/world-records-second-hottest-july-on-record

### 2026-08-12: United States records hottest July in history

The contiguous United States recorded its hottest July ever, breaking the 1936 Dust Bowl record. The heatwave triggered wildfires, air quality crises, and extreme weather across multiple regions.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-records-hottest-july-in-history

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Cite as: Global and US extreme heat records. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-us-extreme-heat-records