July A Hot One For The United States

When we look back on July 2022, one word will come to mind, at least here in the Pacific Northwest.  Hot.  And it wasn't just our neck of the woods that saw extreme heat, but hot conditions were reported up and down the west coast, as well as across the southern Plains.  And Brad Rippey, meteorologist with the USDA says data from NOAA backs that up.

"The lower 48 states experienced its 3rd hottest July on record, with an average temperature of about 76.4 degrees.  That's almost three degrees above the 20th century mean."

The only summers with hotter Julys:  1936, the middle of the dust bowl, as well as drought plagued 2012.  And Rippey pointed out it wasn't just the daytime temps that were hot.

"The national average low temperature of 63.6 degrees was more than three degrees above the 20th century mean and broke the record that was originally set in 2012."

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com