This past July was recorded as the hottest month in history for the United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the average July temperature across the 48 contiguous U.S. states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, reached 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit (24.9°C).

This is the highest figure for any July since weather observations began in the United States in 1895.

Compared to the 20th-century average, it is about 1.8 degrees Celsius higher, and daytime high temperatures averaged 31.9°C.

[Russ Vose / Chief of Climate Analysis, NOAA: What makes July 2026 truly exceptional is that the heat wave was extremely widespread across the entire U.S. mainland. Thirteen states significantly exceeded their average temperatures. Thirteen states significantly exceeded their average temperatures.]

In the United States, damage from record-breaking heat waves continued one after another last month.

A heat wave that struck the East Coast in early July caused more than 20 deaths in New Jersey alone, and as daytime temperatures soared close to 40°C, some outdoor events for the 250th U.S. Independence Day celebration were canceled or scaled back.

Meteorologists point out that heat waves do not simply stop at being hot, but act as a catalyst triggering other disasters.

[Jeff Masters / Meteorologist: Because baseline temperatures have risen due to global warming, it is now easier to break extreme heat and drought records. This is because heat waves and droughts are closely related.]

In the United States, as of August, 48.5 percent of the contiguous mainland is actually suffering from drought, and wildfires and severe downpours have been relentless lately.

[Jeff Masters / Meteorologist: The July record is a serious warning sign. For the rest of our lives, this year might perhaps be remembered as the coolest summer.]

Experts advise that to prevent the Earth from getting hotter, it is necessary to reduce the use of fossil fuels while simultaneously overhauling systems to cope with extreme weather.

(Video Editing: Cho Mu-hwan)