What California managed in July last year was pretty incredible, eapecially within the context of the persistent western warming trend over the last 50 years.

It's kind of amusing that we still can't manage a genuinely below-average summer month, even after spending the past couple of weeks under a deep trough. Not to mention, January was the only month with a meaningful negative temperature departure (was SSW induced cold as well), so it's been another warm year overall in Chicago.

I know it’s not summer, but I think it’s still important to mention that the March-April 2026 period was one of the warmest on record for the Ohio River and Tennessee Valley, even rivaling 2012. Warmth has been a dominant feature for just about every region of the country this year, some just warmer than others of course. Even if you include May, it was a very warm spring overall.

Funnily enough, June will end up near average (to even slightly above) across most Midwestern cities despite the cool second half. The first half felt like July, the second like May, and they essentially canceled each other out. Either way, it really highlights how rare genuinely cool summer months have become, with below average tempe regimes no longer having the strength and staying power as they once did.

No cold freezing smiley anymore :( I also miss deathridge smiley