July 2012: hottest month on record for contiguous United States

Drought expands to cover nearly 63% of the Lower 48; wildfires consume 2 million acres

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during July was 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average, marking the hottest July and the hottest month on record for the nation. The previous warmest July for the nation was July 1936 when the average U.S. temperature was 77.4°F.

The warm July temperatures contributed to a record-warm first seven months of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895...

Source: July 2012: hottest month on record for contiguous United States
Author: NOAA/National Climatic Data center

Link: Drought tightens grip on top US farm states: climatologists
Link: Drought will cause meat prices to spike
Link: Drought-hit US busts heat record from Dust Bowl days
Link: Superinsects Are Thriving in This Summer's Drought/severe drought and genetically modified crops are delivering a one-two punch to US crops.
Link: U.S. Heat Waves of 2011 Linked Directly to Man-Made Climate Change