Climate Central

July 7, 2026 Super Typhoon Bavi underwent extreme rapid intensification over exceptionally warm waters in the Pacific Ocean that were made up to 80 times more likely by climate change. The storm is expected to pass over ocean waters made 10 to 40 times more likely by climate change before impacting parts of Taiwan this weekend (July 10 -11) with winds as high as 290 kmh (130 mph). The Pacific is experiencing a historic marine heat wave — but it’s far from alone.

The Climate Shift Index: Humid Heat global map shows the influence of climate change on daily humid heat and related health risks around the world.

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July is the hottest month for most of the U.S. and it’s getting hotter as the planet warms. Since 1970, July has warmed in 94% of 243 U.S. cities analyzed — by 2.6°F on average. Free graphics show July temperature trends and records for the hottest and coolest July 4th in each city. The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this July 4. The nation's history has unfolded during a period of unprecedented and accelerating global climate change.

A dangerous heat wave will bring prolonged high temperatures, humidity, and warm overnight conditions to much of the eastern United States through the Fourth of July holiday (June 29–July 5). Human-caused climate change has significantly increased the likelihood and the intensity of this event, with the highest Climate Shift Index levels — CSI 5 — forecast across large parts of the country. Note: This event may continue beyond July 6, 2026.

Dangerous humid heat days have more than doubled globally since the 1970s, primarily due to human-caused climate change. Dangerous humid heat days have a daily maximum wet-bulb temperature of 25°C (77°F) or higher. These conditions put many people at risk of heat-related illness. Climate change is causing more dangerous humid heat days in 65% (161) of 247 U.S. cities analyzed — an average of 19 more days per year during the past decade.

Methodology Data Average annual temperature data for U.S. cities was obtained from NOAA's Applied Climate Information System. For U.S. counties, climate divisions, climate regions, states, and the contiguous United States, monthly average temperatures were obtained from the U.S. Climate Divisional Database, and annual averages were derived from the monthly data. Aggregated data can also be accessed directly through NCEI's Climate at a Glance tool.

June 20 is Show Your Stripes Day — a time to spread awareness about climate change using the iconic “warming stripes” graphics showing temperature trends over the last 100+ years. Download and share warming stripes for the globe, the U.S., and individual U.S. states, cities, and more. Each colored stripe represents the annual average temperature relative to a long-term average. Red stripes are years that were hotter than average. Blue stripes are years that were cooler.

Climate Central bridges the scientific community and the public, providing clear information to help people make sound decisions about the climate.

Conversations that make science clear and climate local. You know climate change is happening … but you’re wondering what that means for you. At Curiously Climate, we transform complex climate science into something more personal. Each episode, Shel and Tom have conversations with scientists and storytellers to explore how people across the U.S. are feeling the effects of a warming world.