Summer 2026 Heatwave Shatters Temperature Records In These Places

July 4th, 2026 marked the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Across the country celebrations included fireworks, military flyovers, and Revolutionary War reenactments. But for millions of Americans along the Eastern Seaboard, the occasion was meaningfully diminished by a dangerous heatwave.

In Philadelphia, where weekend temperatures exceeded 100°F, city officials cancelled the Fourth of July parade, along with plans to erect a replica of George Washington’s tent in front of Independence Hall. The July Fourth parade was also cancelled in Washington, D.C. as temperatures hit a historic daily high of 103°F. Similar cancellations or postponements were also reported in smaller cities and towns across Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, due to extreme heat. 

Even before the holiday weekend, dangerous and unprecedented heat had already been a hallmark of the summer of 2026 in much of the United States. According to local weather station data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, daily high temperature records were either matched or broken more than 1,500 times in June alone. In certain parts of the country, temperatures this summer have even reached new all-time highs, breaking previous heat records that have stood for years, or even decades. 

Using data from NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the places where the highest temperature of all time was reported this summer. We ranked all U.S. weather stations that reported unprecedented heat this summer on the difference between the new high temperature record and the previous, pre-2026 record high. Only places that reported new all-time daily highs between June 1 and July 3, 2026 were considered. All supplemental data is also from NOAA. 

10. Essex County, Vermont (Island Pond Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 92°F on July 2, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 2, 1991-2020: 64.9°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 91°F on June 24, 2025
• Weather station record keeping began: 35 years ago

9. Norfolk, Connecticut (Norfolk 2 SW Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 94°F on July 3, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 3, 1991-2020: 68.3°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 93°F on June 25, 2025
• Weather station record keeping began: 141 years ago

8. Morris County, New Jersey (Schooley S Mountain 1 SW Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 97°F on July 3, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 3, 1991-2020: 71.6°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 96°F on June 25, 2025
• Weather station record keeping began: 31 years ago

7. Somerset, Virginia (Somerset Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 100°F on July 2, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 2, 1991-2020: 75.8°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 99°F on June 30, 2012
• Weather station record keeping began: 30 years ago

6. Scottsville, Virginia (Scottsville 6 SE Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 104°F on July 3, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 3, 1991-2020: 75.0°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 103°F on July 9, 2012
• Weather station record keeping began: 31 years ago

5. Yakutat, Alaska (Yakataga Airport Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 77°F on June 3, 2026
• Average local temperature on June 3, 1991-2020: 49.5°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 75°F on June 2, 1946
• Weather station record keeping began: 83 years ago

4. Pocahontas County, West Virginia (Snowshoe Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 89°F on July 3, 2026
• Average local temperature on July 3, 1991-2020: 62.3°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 87°F on July 9, 1986
• Weather station record keeping began: 50 years ago

3. Reagan County, Texas (Cope Ranch Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 118°F on June 19, 2026
• Average local temperature on June 19, 1991-2020: 80.4°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 116°F on June 26, 2023
• Weather station record keeping began: 61 years ago

2. Geneva County, Alabama (Geneva Number 2 Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 110°F on June 14, 2026
• Average local temperature on June 14, 1991-2020: 78.6°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 103°F on October 3, 2025
• Weather station record keeping began: 50 years ago

1. Homestead, Florida (Homestead Airport Weather Station)

• Highest temperature ever recorded at weather station: 109°F on June 7, 2026
• Average local temperature on June 7, 1991-2020: 81.1°F
• Pre-2026 record high temperature: 100°F on May 20, 2024
• Weather station record keeping began: 36 years ago