U.S. slightly surpasses 1936 record for hottest summer ever, NOAA says

The contiguous U.S. just recorded its hottest summer ever, topping the previous record set in 1936 by less than a hundredth of a degree, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found in a recent climate report. Between June and August 2021, the average temperature in the lower 48 states was 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

NOAA reported that 18.4% of the contiguous U.S. experienced extreme or record-breaking heat during the summer months. This summer was in the top five hottest on record for 16 states, and California, Oregon, Utah, Idaho and Nevada experienced their hottest summers ever recorded. At one point in August, over 200 million Americans were under heat advisories. In Oregon, temperatures reached an all-time high of 116 degrees Fahrenheit in June, killing 63 people and forcing the city of Portland to shutter its light rail and street car services and encourage residents to stay inside.