Georgia swelters as U.S. records its hottest July ever
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S. and ranked among the most sweltering in Georgia's recorded history, per new federal data dating back to 1895.
Why it matters: Exceptionally hot summers in Georgia and across the country are forcing elected officials to rethink how people stay safe and survive in the heat.
- If you listen closely, you can hear your HVAC system asking for a vacation.
By the numbers: In Georgia, last month's average temperature was 83°F, making it the seventh-hottest July in the state, according to available data — and well above the past month's record-setting national average temperature of 76.89°F.
What they're saying: "Above-average temperatures covered the entire [contiguous U.S.], with all states ranking in the warmest third of their July temperature records and none ranking near or below average," NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said in its monthly report.
Zoom in: Extreme heat is one of the biggest environmental threats facing Atlantans, and especially affects people living on low incomes in homes without air conditioning or in neighborhoods with low tree cover.
- A blistering July 4 holiday weekend spurred the Atlanta City Council to unanimously call on Mayor Andre Dickens to beef up Atlanta's heat safety response with more cooling centers, an extreme heat alert notification system, updated protocols and more.
The big picture: July featured a series of "heat domes" across the country that trapped warm air beneath them, fueling several extreme heat events.
- Researchers have found that climate change is making extreme heat events more common and more intense — but they're also linked to weather phenomena like El Niño.
What we're watching: NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an elevated chance of above-average temperatures for most of the continental U.S. through August.
- It's also possible that 2026 will set a new record for the hottest year globally.