July Recorded as Hottest Month in Contiguous U.S. History

The contiguous United States experienced its hottest month ever recorded last month, according to data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July's average temperature in the Lower 48 states was 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 24.94 degrees Celsius, which surpassed the previous records set in July 1936 and July 2012. This average was more than three degrees above the 20th century average. Records for these measurements date back to 1895.

NOAA reported that the heat was widespread, with every one of the Lower 48 states remaining above the 20th century average. The most excessive heat occurred in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains, and Southeast. Wyoming recorded its hottest July and hottest month of any kind on record. A significant driver of the record was the increase in nighttime lows, which exceeded previous marks by 0.7 degrees Celsius. This trend contributed to higher total heat stress, as bodies have less time to readjust when nighttime temperatures remain high.

Scientists cited the burning of coal, oil, and gas as the cause of the current warming. They noted that while the heat of the 1930s Dust Bowl was concentrated in the Midwest and aggravated by agricultural practices, current trends are consistent with human caused climate change. Some reports also noted that a rapidly intensifying El Niño event in the tropical Pacific Ocean may have played a supporting role in elevating temperatures.

Outlets with a center left lean framed the event as part of a broader global crisis, highlighting mirroring heat waves and wildfires in Europe and the role of heat domes. Outlets with a center right lean focused more on the historical comparison to the Dust Bowl and the specific meteorological data regarding nighttime lows and temperature averages.