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July was hottest month ever recorded in US as heatwaves scorched country
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous US, with an average temperature 3.3°F (1.8°C) above the 20th-century average, surpassing records dating back to 1895.
- The extreme heat was driven by three heat dome events affecting large regions including the US West, Rockies, Upper Midwest, Gulf Coast, and Southeast, with Wyoming experiencing its hottest July ever at 5.1°F above average.
- Wildfire smoke from large blazes in Canada and the US Pacific Northwest compounded the heat crisis, with scientists attributing the severity of heatwaves and fires to human-caused climate change fueled by fossil fuel combustion.
- A recent poll showed nearly half of Americans faced major increases in electricity bills due to heat-related air conditioning use, and many reported disruptions to travel, outdoor activities, and exercise routines compared to two years ago.
- Despite mounting climate impacts, President Donald Trump has continued to promote fossil fuel production and dismiss climate science, while a strong El Niño event is expected to drive record-breaking global temperatures in 2024 and 2025.
