Contiguous U.S. breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says

Last month marked the hottest July ever recorded in the contiguous United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Temperatures averaged 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the previous record set in 1936 and 2012 by a fraction of a degree. The average low temperature also broke the record, at 64.2 degrees, marking the warmest July on record since 1895.

The extreme heat caused heat alerts to be issued for over 185 million people, affecting major cities across the nation. Numerous events, including the Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C., had to be canceled or postponed due to the heat. Salt Lake City hit an all-time high of 109 degrees, while many locations experienced heavy rain and major flooding despite below-average overall precipitation, which ranked as the third driest July on record.

The drought situation worsened, with 48.5% of the contiguous U.S. experiencing drought conditions as of August 4. Puerto Rico also faced severe drought, with more than two-thirds of the island affected. The dry and warm weather fueled wildfires, with Eastern Oregon experiencing over 140,000 acres burned in July. Globally, July 2023 was the joint second-warmest July on record, and the World Meteorological Organization warned that above-normal temperatures are expected over the next three months due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.