NEW YORK — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its summer 2025 forecast, predicting hotter-than-average temperatures across much of the United States. The Climate Prediction Center's outlook indicates that extreme heat is likely to impact areas including the East Coast, southern Plains, and the West.

This forecast assesses seasonal average temperatures over the three-month meteorological summer, which runs from June to August. However, it does not provide specifics on daily temperature fluctuations. For instance, while June may experience typical summer weather, July and August could see significant spikes in temperature, raising the overall average for the season.

In Phoenix, Arizona, average high temperatures this summer are expected to range from 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, which is consistent with typical summer conditions. In contrast, Caribou, Maine, usually sees average highs between 72 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Although both locations are marked in red on NOAA's forecast map, indicating above-average temperatures, the implications of this vary significantly based on local climate norms. For Caribou, an increase of just one degree may not feel particularly hot.

The forecast also considers overnight lows, meaning that in some regions, warmer-than-average temperatures may result from milder nights rather than excessively hot days. While the outlook highlights areas likely to experience above-average warmth, it does not specify the intensity or duration of any extreme heat events.

Historically, the hottest temperatures of summer typically occur later in the season. For most of the contiguous United States, July is generally the hottest month. However, some regions may not reach their peak temperatures until August or even September. For example, the South usually sees its highest average temperatures in the latter half of August, while the West Coast often experiences its warmest weather in September.

The past two summers have set records for warmth in the Northern Hemisphere, with extreme heat affecting multiple continents. According to a 2024 report by Copernicus, the European Union's Climate Change Service, summer 2024 was the warmest on record, surpassing the previous year's record by 0.66 degrees Celsius (1.19 degrees Fahrenheit). The report noted that all of the Northern Hemisphere's top ten warmest summers have occurred within the last decade.

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, stated, "The temperature-related extreme events witnessed this summer will only become more intense, with more devastating consequences for people and the planet unless we take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

The last cooler-than-average year recorded was in 1976, according to NOAA. While it is unlikely that summer 2025 will break last year's record, the forecast suggests that many areas in the U.S. could experience scorching temperatures this season.