US cities shatter heat records with unprecedented 100-degree days in 2026
A new AccuWeather analysis shows dozens of American cities logged more days above 100 °F in 2026 than ever before, with Dallas leading at 52 such days.
AccuWeather’s latest review reveals that the 2026 summer set new temperature milestones across the United States, with a surge in triple-digit days. Dallas topped the list with 52 days above 100 °F, eclipsing its historical average and the seven days recorded the year before. Austin recorded 48 such days, and Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Wichita each posted record-breaking tallies, with Oklahoma City jumping from one day in 2025 to 35 in 2026.
Other locations, including Lander, Wyoming, New York City’s Kennedy Airport, Atlantic City and Miami, either tied or matched prior records, while Colorado logged 27 days over 100 °F, surpassing its 2002 benchmark. The rise is linked to persistent heat domes and a strengthening super El Niño, contributing to broader climate impacts such as altered foliage, longer wildfire and hurricane seasons, and heightened health risks, as heat already ranks as the nation’s leading cause of death.
Why it matters
Record-breaking heat underscores accelerating climate risks and growing public-health threats across the United States.
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