Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says

The contiguous United States experienced its hottest month on record in July, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Lower 48 states recorded an average temperature of 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius) last month.

This temperature surpasses the previous record set in July 1936, which had an average of 76.77 degrees Fahrenheit. The new record-breaking figure is 3.3 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the historical average for the 1901-2000 period, based on federal data dating back to 1895.