The U.S. just had its hottest summer on record, NOAA says
Average temperatures across the U.S. soared to record heights between June and August in 2026, a new report found.
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Read the original articleCBS News · cbsnews.comOur verdict
Political lean
0 = center. The further from 0, the stronger the lean (max 10).
Reporting balance
How complete and even-handed the reporting is — separate from which side it leans.
This article is a straightforward, fact-based report on the summer 2026 climate findings from NOAA. It avoids editorializing and provides sufficient historical context to demonstrate the significance of the record-breaking temperatures and drought conditions reported.
Key Findings
- 1The reporting is strictly data-driven, focusing on NOAA climate metrics without inserting editorial commentary on policy or political implications.
- 2The article maintains neutrality by distinguishing between national trends and isolated pockets of normal conditions, such as the Midwest and northern Plains.
Dimension Breakdown
The article relies on data directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report.
The language is objective and relies on statistical data from a government agency.
The article includes data on both heat and precipitation levels to provide a comprehensive look at the summer climate.
Covers regional variations within the U.S., acknowledging that not all areas experienced the same climate extremes.
The headline accurately reflects the primary finding of the NOAA report.
Provides relevant historical comparisons to 20th-century averages and previous record-breaking years.
Missing Perspectives
- The article does not include perspectives from climate policy analysts or economists regarding the practical implications of these records on specific industries, although it links to previous reporting on the subject.
Key Facts
- The U.S. average temperature between June and August 2026 was 74.4 degrees Fahrenheit (NOAA).
- Summer 2026 was the warmest on record since 1894, surpassing records from 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 degrees (NOAA).
- Average temperatures for summer 2026 were 3.5 degrees hotter than the average collected throughout the 1900s (NOAA).
- California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado recorded their warmest August temperatures in history (NOAA).
- National precipitation between June and August was 8.11 inches, which is 0.21 inches below the 20th-century average (NOAA).
- Drought conditions covered 59.1% of the U.S. as of early September 2026 (U.S. Drought Monitor).