Five daily high-temperature records were broken and one was tied at six sites across Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois on October 13, 2026. Temperatures at the sites reached 32.8–33.9°C (91–93°F), or 9.4–13.3°C (17–24°F) above normal, following the warmest September on record for the contiguous United States.
A long-duration October heat wave is affecting California under an anomalous ridge over the western United States, with Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings in effect from Northern and Central California into Southern California. The NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecasts October 3 as the hottest day of the short-range period, with temperatures about 8–11°C (15–20°F) above normal and some valleys reaching approximately 42°C (107°F).
Heat Advisories issued by 16 National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices cover portions of 12 U.S. states from September 14 through September 16, 2026, with heat index values forecast to reach 46°C (114°F) in southern Texas. The advisories extend from Texas and Oklahoma through the Lower Mississippi Valley and Mid-South into Indiana and Kentucky.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued Heat Advisories for parts of Arkansas, northern Mississippi and western Tennessee from 11:00 to 20:00 CDT on September 10, 2026 (16:00 UTC on September 10 to 01:00 UTC on September 11). Heat-index values could reach approximately 43°C (109°F) in central, eastern and southeastern Arkansas and 42°C (107°F) elsewhere in the Mid-South. Farther west, temperatures near 38°C (100°F) are forecast in parts of North Texas as dangerous late-summer heat persists across the southern United States.
Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories were issued across parts of the central and southern United States, the Southwest and California on September 8, 2026. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast heat index values up to 44°C (112°F) in parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma and temperatures up to 47°C (116°F) in Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley, with several western alerts continuing through September 11.
21 students were transported with heat-related illnesses after Carter Middle School in Knox County, Tennessee, evacuated students to a football field during an NWS Heat Advisory on September 4, 2026. The advisory warned of heat index values reaching 41.1°C (106°F) across the affected area, while three students were classified as critical when transported, according to Rural Metro Fire.
A long-duration heat wave affecting the central and eastern United States is forecast to shift its most intense conditions into the south-central states this weekend and early next week, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC). High humidity and very warm nights are expected to contribute to widespread Major to Extreme HeatRisk, with heat indices potentially exceeding 43.3°C (110°F) in South Texas.
A dangerous heat wave is peaking across the Western U.S. this weekend, with Extreme Heat Warnings covering parts of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Mojave Desert temperatures are forecast to reach 43.3–48.9°C (110–120°F), while Reno and Salt Lake City have already set daily high-temperature records on August 7.
A dangerous heatwave is forecast to intensify across the southwestern United States on Friday, July 31, 2026, and then spread into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains during the weekend, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).
Extreme Heat Watches have been issued for large portions of Utah, Montana, and north-central Wyoming as widespread dangerous heat is forecast from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26, with some areas remaining under hazardous conditions into early next week. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to reach 35 to 43°C (95 to 110°F), while unusually warm nights across northern Utah are expected to limit overnight cooling and increase cumulative heat stress.
