July 2012 Hottest Month on Record

July 2012 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States.  Drought expanded to cover nearly 63 percent of the lower 48 while wildfires consumed 2 million acres.   According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature was 77.6 degrees, 3.3 degrees above the 20^th Century average.  The previous warmest July for the nation was July 1936 when the average was 77.4 degrees.