United States records hottest July in history

The contiguous United States experienced its hottest July on record, surpassing the previous benchmarks set during the 1936 Dust Bowl. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature for the Lower 48 states reached 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit, eclipsing the 1936 record by approximately one-eighth of a degree.

The extreme heat was driven by widespread conditions across the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast, as well as record-breaking nighttime lows. Scientists attribute these rising temperatures to human-caused climate change, specifically the burning of fossil fuels.

The heatwave was accompanied by several environmental crises, including heat dome events that triggered massive wildfires in states such as Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. These fires, combined with smoke from domestic and Canadian blazes, led to severe air quality degradation in regions like the Midwest. Additionally, the extreme weather patterns resulted in both intense drought and severe flash flooding in various parts of the country.