US Records Hottest Month Ever as July Heat Breaks 132-Year Record
The United States experienced its hottest month on record in July, with an average temperature of 76.89°F (24.94°C) across the contiguous 48 states, according to NOAA. This surpassed the previous record set in July 1936 during the Dust Bowl era. The average temperature was 3.3°F (1.8°C) above the 20th-century average, with every state recording temperatures at least 1°F (0.6°C) above normal. Wyoming experienced its hottest month ever, with temperatures 5.1°F above average. The heat was driven by three major heat domes, which trapped hot air under high-pressure systems, leading to prolonged extreme heat across the West, Rockies, Upper Midwest, Gulf Coast, and Southeast. Scientists attribute the severity of the heat to human-driven climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of such events.