Regional records were broken across the West and Southwest. California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado experienced their warmest August temperatures on record in 2026. Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah experienced their highest average nighttime low temperatures for August on record. Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah experienced their warmest summers on record in 2026, while Arizona tied its previous record for the warmest summer.

Precipitation levels remained below average during the period. Nationwide precipitation for summer 2026 averaged 8.11 inches, which is 0.21 inches below the 20th-century average. California experienced its driest summer since 2002 and its fifth-driest summer on record in 2026. Texas and Oklahoma received less than 30 percent of their usual August rainfall in 2026.

Drought conditions expanded as the summer progressed. Drought covered 59.1% of the contiguous United States as of September 1, 2026. The area of the U.S. experiencing drought increased by more than 10 percentage points between the start of August and September 1, 2026. Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached their lowest water levels since construction as of September 8, 2026, at 26% and 21% capacity respectively.

Wildfire activity corresponded with the dry and hot conditions. A total of 53,665 wildfires burned 8,397,760 acres in the U.S. through September 8, 2026. The Big Grass Fire in Oregon burned more than 578,000 acres from late July through early September 2026.

About 14,000 firefighters and support personnel were responding to wildfires as of September 9, 2026. The National Interagency Coordination Center lowered its wildfire preparedness level to three on September 9, 2026.

The year-to-date average temperature for the contiguous U.S. through August 2026 was 57.98 degrees Fahrenheit. This figure exceeded the previous record set in 2012 by 0.08 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation across the 48 contiguous states for the year to date through August 2026 was the 13th-driest in 132 years of recordkeeping.

Area-averaged precipitation for the contiguous U.S. year-to-date through August 2026 was 18.56 inches, which was more than 10% below the long-term average. Temperatures in the lower troposphere above the 48 contiguous states set records for the warmest summer and warmest year to date in 2026.

Why It Matters

The persistence of extreme heat and drought has tangible impacts on water resources and fire management infrastructure. Reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached historic lows, affecting water availability in the Southwest. The expansion of drought coverage by more than 10 percentage points in a single month illustrates the rapid intensification of dry conditions.

The World Meteorological Organization expects the current El Nino event to persist into early 2027. This pattern contributes to the frequency of record-breaking temperatures, with four of the five hottest U.S. summers occurring in the past five years.

Timeline

March 2026 was the warmest March on record for the contiguous United States. The lowest temperature recorded in Milwaukee during summer 2026 was 46 degrees Fahrenheit on June 3. July 2026 was the warmest single month in contiguous U.S. history.

The contiguous United States experienced its hottest meteorological summer (June through August) on record in 2026. August 2026 was the hottest August on record for the contiguous United States.

What's New

The year-to-date average temperature through August 2026 exceeded the previous record set in 2012 by 0.08 degrees Fahrenheit.

World Meteorological Organization chief Celeste Saulo stated that the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon could become one of the most intense on record. Year-to-date precipitation through August 2026 was more than 10% below the long-term average. Colorado is state of the United States of America. New Mexico is state of the United States of America.