Summer 2022 in Review

Summer 2022 was the third hottest on record for the contiguous U.S., with significant influence from climate change on both daytime and nighttime temperatures. Using the Climate Shift Index, the analysis shows that nearly half of the contiguous U.S. experienced 15 or more days where average temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change. The period was also marked by extreme precipitation in Missouri and Kentucky, widespread wildfires burning over 6.7 million acres, and severe drought affecting 94% of Hawaii and 85 consecutive weeks in Puerto Rico.

• Summer 2022 was the third-warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., with an average temperature of 73.9°F, which is 2.5°F above the 1901-2000 average. Texas, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island each experienced their second-warmest summers since 1895.
• Climate Central's Climate Shift Index (CSI) indicates that climate change significantly influenced summer temperatures. Approximately 49% of the contiguous U.S. (about 132 million people) had 15 or more days where average temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change. Certain areas, such as Tampa, Florida, saw this effect for more than 70 summer days.
• Nighttime temperatures are warming faster than daytime temperatures, with a rate of +1.6°F per century since 1895. In 2022, the contiguous U.S. had its second-warmest summer minimum temperatures on record, and 64% of the area (72% of the population) experienced 15 or more nights where minimum temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change.
• Beyond heat, the summer of 2022 featured other extremes: over 50,600 wildfires burned more than 6.7 million acres; catastrophic flash flooding occurred in Missouri and eastern Kentucky; and severe drought affected 94% of Hawaii by August 30, while Puerto Rico faced 85 consecutive weeks of drought in July.

APA

Climate Central (2022). Summer 2022 in Review. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/summer-2022-in-review

Chicago

Climate Central. Summer 2022 in Review. 2022. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/summer-2022-in-review.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Summer 2022 in Review |date=21 September 2022 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/summer-2022-in-review |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2022summer, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Summer 2022 in Review}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/summer-2022-in-review}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }