Fact Checking 3,000+ Record Breaking High Temperatures in Late June 2025

This article was written in response to a claim overheard that “They can’t find any examples of actual warming, so they call it climate change instead of global warming.”

Summary: We personally felt the heat at the end of June 2025, hottest ever in our exprience over about 10 years living in the same place. That’s the only example of actual warming we need, but was our experience isolated? According to Climate Central, this extreme heat event was made at least three times more likely by human-driven climate change and impacted around 174 million people. Temperatures soared well above normal averages by 20°F to 25°F in states like Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with highs exceeding 95°F to 100°F across the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, and much of the East Coast. Notable record-breaking highs included Baltimore, MD at 105°F (surpassing the previous 101°F record from 2010), Newark, NJ at 103°F, Springfield, OH at 104°F, Bumfield Lake, MA at 100°F, New York City hitting 100°F for the first time in June since 1966, Philadelphia reaching 101°F, Boston setting a new June record at 102°F, and Washington, D.C. reaching 101°F.

These extreme temperatures led to heat emergencies, power outages, transportation disruptions, and hundreds of heat-related illnesses. The heat dome responsible for this event trapped hot, humid air over a vast region, causing dangerous heat index values over 105°F. Scientists, including University of Pennsylvania’s Michael Mann, attribute the increased frequency and intensity of such heat waves to global warming, which disrupts atmospheric patterns and causes persistent heat domes. This heat wave was followed by a severe heat event in Europe, further underscoring the urgent need for climate action worldwide.

In late June 2025, North America experienced an unprecedented heat wave that shattered over 3,000 temperature records across the continent in just a few days. This extreme event was quickly followed by a dangerous heat wave sweeping across Europe, pushing temperatures beyond 100°F (38°C) in many countries and igniting wildfires and health emergencies.

Fact Check

Multiple reputable sources confirm that in late June 2025, North America experienced an unprecedented heat wave that shattered over 3,000 high temperature records across the continent within just a few days. According to AccuWeather, between June 19 and June 25 alone, more than 1,000 daily high temperature records and over 2,000 daily high minimum (warm night) records were tied or broken, with some locations reaching their hottest June or all-time temperatures. Climate Central highlighted that this early-season heat wave affected nearly half of the U.S. population—around 174 million people.

AccuWeather obtains its weather data from a vast network of sources including government agencies (such as NOAA), satellites, radar, land stations, ships, aircraft, and crowdsourced reports from around 40 countries. This real-time observational data is continuously transmitted and aggregated by AccuWeather, which then processes it using proprietary AI algorithms combined with expert meteorologist analysis in their “Digital Forecasting System.” Their forecasts are regularly verified and refined against actual observed conditions to ensure high accuracy, as confirmed by independent studies showing AccuWeather’s superior performance in temperature and precipitation predictions.

Similarly, Climate Central relies on official meteorological data from government agencies like NOAA and the National Weather Service, which maintain rigorous quality control and verification protocols for temperature and climate records. These agencies use standardized instruments and procedures at official weather stations, and data undergoes thorough validation to confirm the legitimacy of record-breaking temperatures before public reporting. Together, these organizations ensure that temperature records and forecasts are based on verified, high-quality data collected from trusted, scientifically maintained networks.

North America’s Heat Record Breakdown: Notable Cities

Between June 22 and 24, 2025, cities from the Midwest to the East Coast recorded some of their highest temperatures ever for June, with many surpassing previous all-time or daily records. Here are notable locations where specific heat records were broken:

1. Baltimore, MD – 105°F (New record, previous 101°F in 2010) [5]
2. Newark, NJ – 103°F (New record, surpassing 1966 record) [5]
3. Springfield, OH – 104°F (New all-time record, topping 101°F from day prior and previous 101°F in 1983) [5]
4 Boston, MA – 102°F (New June record, breaking previous 101°F) [2]
5. JFK Airport, NY – 102°F (Hottest June reading ever recorded there) [4]
6. Barre Falls Dam, MA – 102°F (On June 24, exceeding the record by 10°. Prior: 92°, set in 2020.) [5]
7. Plattsburgh, NY – 101°F (New all-time record, matching its all-time high) [2]
8. Gregory, SD – 101°F (On Jun 22 new record exceeded previous 98°F, set in 1949.)
9. Washington, DC – 101°F (New daily record) [4]
10. Philadelphia, PA – 101°F (Near all-time June record) [2]
11. Bumfield Lake, MA – 100°F (New all-time record, previous 98°F in 1991) [5]
12. New York City, NY – 100°F (First June 100°F since 1966) [5]
13. Providence, RI – 100°F (Breaking its hottest June day record) [8]
14. Island Pond, VT – 91°F (New record on June 24, prior record temperature was 86°, set in 2020.)

These record-breaking temperatures caused widespread disruptions, including delays in Amtrak rail service, cancellations of outdoor events, and hundreds of heat-related illnesses. Emergency services were stretched thin as vulnerable populations, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, faced life-threatening heat stress. These record-breaking temperatures have real, tangible impacts on millions of people’s daily lives.

Europe’s Dangerous Heat Wave and Wildfires

Following North America’s record-breaking heat, Europe is now grappling with its own extreme heat wave. Temperatures have soared above 100°F (38°C) in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with nearly two dozen Italian cities under red alert. Turkey has evacuated over 50,000 people due to fast-spreading wildfires fueled by the heat and dry conditions. France also recorded its first forest fires of the season.

These heat waves have strained health systems and raised concerns about the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events.

Scientific Explanation: Why Are Heat Waves Intensifying?

Climate scientist Michael Mann, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explains that the frequency of heat waves and flooding events has nearly tripled since the 1950s. The primary driver is human-induced global warming, which increases the likelihood of extreme heat events.

Mann highlights the role of the Arctic warming faster than the global average, which disrupts the Northern Hemisphere jet stream. This leads to “wavy” atmospheric patterns that can become stuck in place, creating prolonged heat domes or persistent rain events. These locked-in heat domes trap hot, dry air, intensifying heat waves and making them last longer.

He warns that climate models may underestimate the severity and duration of these events, meaning future heat waves could be even more extreme.

Political and Social Implications

Despite the growing evidence and urgency, political responses remain mixed. The U.S. Senate is currently debating a budget bill that would reduce incentives for clean energy while promoting fossil fuel extraction—a move climate experts like Mann criticize as “tragic” and harmful to economic competitiveness.

Additionally, the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s website, which hosts critical climate reports, was recently taken offline, raising concerns about transparency and the accessibility of scientific information.

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and climate change has called for urgent “defossilization” of economies, emphasizing that phasing out fossil fuels is the most impactful health intervention to combat climate change. She advocates banning fossil fuel lobbying and disinformation campaigns, highlighting the intersection of climate action and human rights.

A Call for Urgent Climate Action

The record-breaking heat waves in North America and Europe this summer are stark reminders of the escalating climate crisis. They highlight the urgent need for global cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilient infrastructure, and protect vulnerable communities from increasingly dangerous weather extremes.

As Michael Mann puts it, “You make the planet hotter, you’re going to have more frequent and intense heat extremes.”

The phrase “It is not too late to reduce risks, but the time to act decisively is now” is a central message echoed by many leading climate scientists, experts, and global leaders, especially in response to the latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and international climate bodies.

Who says it?

– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has repeatedly called the latest IPCC reports a “code red for humanity,” emphasizing that while the window to limit warming to 1.5°C is closing, it is still scientifically possible to avoid the worst impacts if decisive and immediate action is taken. He states:

“The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable… The only way to prevent exceeding this threshold is by urgently stepping up our efforts, and pursuing the most ambitious path.” [Source 1]

– Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland, stresses:

“The opportunity to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C is very slim, but still scientifically possible… The exigency of this situation must not lead us to despair, rather it should propel us into action.” [Source 1]

– Mitchell Bernard, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council, calls it an “all-hands-on-deck moment,” warning that failure to act will cause unbearable hardship and death, but decisive action can still change the course. [Source 1]

– Valérie Masson-Delmotte, IPCC Co-Chair and climate scientist, states:

“The science is clear: we need to act now to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.” [11]

– The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2022) states:

“The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming.” [15]

– The United Nations Secretary-General in his special address on climate action urged:

“Now is the time to mobilise, now is the time to act, now is the time to deliver.” [16]

What is the evidence that it is true?

– The IPCC reports provide the most comprehensive scientific assessment of climate change, showing that global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C and avoid catastrophic impacts. The reports are based on thousands of peer-reviewed studies and observational data.[10]

– Observations confirm that global temperatures have already risen about 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, with increasing frequency and severity of heat waves, wildfires, floods, and sea-level rise—impacts that are projected to worsen without urgent mitigation. [11]

– Climate models demonstrate that rapid, large-scale emission reductions can still slow warming and reduce risks to ecosystems and human societies, especially if combined with adaptation and resilience-building efforts. [15]

– Economic and technological analyses show that renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable land use are increasingly viable and cost-effective, making rapid decarbonization feasible. [10]

– Failure to act decisively will lead to irreversible damage, including loss of biodiversity, food and water insecurity, displacement, and increased mortality, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations worldwide.[11]

Key sources:
– [Global Citizen: Climate Experts Respond to IPCC ‘Code Red’](https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/un-ipcc-climate-report-code-red-experts-quotes/) (2021)
– [Climate Change Quotes by Scientists](https://www.climatechangeguide.com/climate-change-quotes-by-scientists.html) (2024)
– [IPCC AR6 WGIII Press Release](https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/04/04/ipcc-ar6-wgiii-pressrelease/) (2022)
– [United Nations Climate Action Speeches](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/speeches)

Fact Checking a Leading Critic

Michael Mann’s most vocal critic is Marc Morano, a political commentator and communications director of the advocacy group Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). Morano has been a prominent and outspoken opponent of Mann’s climate science, frequently accusing him of politicizing research and promoting what Morano calls a “climate con” or “lavishly funded climate machine.” He characterizes Mann as a “hardcore political activist” who does not tolerate criticism and leads efforts to mislead the public about climate change. Mann, in turn, has described Morano and similar critics as ideologically motivated deniers rather than genuine skeptics.

According to ChatGPT, while there is no specific public statement from Morano directly addressing the 3,000+ temperature records broken in June 2025, his longstanding pattern of climate denial and misinformation strongly suggests he would question or dismiss such data. As evidence, Morano’s site states, without providing the data to support this assertion, that general trends show there were more heat waves in the 1930’s and 1950’s than now.

In addition, multiple articles on Climate Realism demonstrate that the mainstream media loves to focus on short-term spikes and isolated events while completely disregarding the cooling trends and the full historical record. One article, “CNN Ignores Long-Term Data, Claims Heat Waves Are Becoming More Severe,” shows how CNN conveniently glosses over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s data which contradict their claims, by showing that heat waves were far more prevalent and severe during the 1930s and the 1950s, for example.

The claim that more heat waves occurred in the 1930s and 1950s than today, cited by Marc Morano and echoed on ClimateDepot.com and affiliated sites attempt to downplay recent record-breaking temperatures. However, this argument selectively focuses on certain historical periods while ignoring comprehensive, modern temperature records and the broader context of climate change.

The best comprehensive and authoritative source for modern global temperature records is the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) climate monitoring reports and data portal[9]. NOAA provides detailed monthly and annual global surface temperature analyses, including long-term trends, regional breakdowns, and historical context based on 176 years of instrumental records.

While it is true that some regions in the U.S. experienced severe heat waves during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s and again in the 1950s, these localized events when averaged over all data points do not negate the evidence that globally, temperatures and heat extremes have increased significantly in recent decades. The 3,000+ temperature records broken across North America in June 2025 represent a continent-wide, unprecedented event confirmed by multiple independent meteorological agencies and scientific institutions.

If Morano or ClimateDepot wanted to dispute these recent records, the straightforward approach would be to provide verifiable historical data showing higher temperatures than those recorded in 2025. To date, no such evidence has been presented. Instead, the argument relies on general assertions and selective comparisons without rigorous data support.

In fact, comprehensive analyses by NOAA, NASA, and the IPCC show a clear upward trend in global average temperatures and the frequency of extreme heat events, consistent with human-driven climate change. The existence of past heat waves does not invalidate current records; rather, it highlights that climate variability has always existed, but the recent increase in extremes is both statistically significant and unprecedented in the instrumental record.

Verdict:
It is plausible that higher temperatures existed on Earth in prehistoric eras before modern records, but this does not undermine the validity of the 3,000+ new temperature records set in June 2025. No credible evidence has been provided to show that any of these recent records are erroneous or that historical temperatures exceeded them in a way that contradicts current climate science.

This article does not address the issue and evidence of man-made vs natural warming from solar output, etc. We have only focused on the veracity of the record breaking heat wave of June 2025 and we found no evidence or even claims that the data reported was incorrect.

Summary:

Morano and ClimateDepot claim historical heat waves were worse but provide no data disproving recent records.
The 3,000+ June 2025 temperature records are verified by multiple scientific agencies.
Past localized heat extremes do not invalidate the global upward trend in temperature and heat extremes.
No evidence has been presented to refute the accuracy of the 2025 records.

Sources:
– [1] Newsweek, “Satellite Image Reveals Heat Dome’s Impact on US,” June 30, 2025.
– [2] Weather.com, “June, All-Time Heat Records Set, Tied In Northeast, Midwest Heat,” June 25, 2025.
– [3] Climate Central, “Almost half of the U.S. affected by climate change-driven heat wave,” June 20, 2025.
– [4] USA Today, “US heat wave brings record-setting temperatures,” June 24, 2025.
– [5] Axios, “Hundreds of heat records set across U.S. this week,” June 26, 2025.
– [6] Wikipedia, “2025 India–Pakistan heat wave.”
– [7] Washington Post, “Here’s where the U.S. will see record-breaking heat,” June 22, 2025.
– [8] Fox Weather, “Heat dome’s triple-digit temperatures breaking records from…,” June 24, 2025.

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