Temperatures reached new heights in July. Records dating back to 1895 show this was the warmest month on record for the contiguous US. A notable comparison has been made to the Dust Bowl era.

Further information is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They reported the average temperature for the Lower 48 states. Details about the impact of this record-breaking heat can be found through sources such as Yale Climate Connections, which offers insight from meteorologists.