Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says
The contiguous United States shattered its record for the hottest month ever in July, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The average temperature across the Lower 48 states last month reached 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius), surpassing the Dust Bowl's July 1936 record by a tenth of a degree.
Although Alaska experienced unusually cool conditions, the Lower 48 states were dominated by excessive heat, with the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast bearing the brunt of the intense temperatures. Nighttime lows played a significant role in the heatwave, with the previous record for the hottest minimums set during the Dust Bowl being surpassed by 0.7 degrees. Scientists attribute the extreme nighttime temperatures to human-induced climate change.
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