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July was hottest month ever recorded in US as heatwaves scorched country
Scientists have made clear that the elevated heat in the US was being amplified by the human-caused climate crisis
TL;DR
- July was the hottest month ever recorded in the US, surpassing previous records from 1936 and 2012.
- The contiguous US experienced average temperatures 3.3F higher than the 20th-century average.
- Three heat dome events and wildfire smoke contributed to extreme heat across the country.
- Scientists emphasize that the human-caused climate crisis, accelerated by burning fossil fuels, is amplifying the heat and fires.
- The extreme heat has impacted Americans' electricity bills, travel plans, outdoor activities, and exercise routines.
- An unusually strong El Niño event is predicted to cause next year to be the hottest on record globally.