US records hottest July in 131 years, NOAA says

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — July 2022 was the hottest July in the United States in 131 years of meteorological records, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency's data showed an average temperature of 24.94 degrees Celsius across the contiguous 48 states, 1.47 degrees above the 20th-century average. The monthly average surpassed the previous record set during the 1936 Dust Bowl era, NOAA said. New Mexico, Arizona and Florida recorded their hottest July on record, while 18 states ranked among their ten warmest Julys. High temperatures combined with drought conditions affected roughly 40 percent of the mainland United States. Wildfire response efforts continued across the country, with the Northwest carrying the largest share of activity and approximately 100 large fires detected to date.