July National Recap - Heat and Fires

news image
Special Stories
10 Aug 2018 10:21 AM
[Death Valley National Park in California set a new world record in July: It was the hottest place during it's hottest month on record. Temperatures reached 127 degrees F for four days in a row (as shown in this photo of a temperature sign in front of the visitor center), and the park experienced an average monthly temperature of 108 degrees for July.] From NOAA The heat was hard to beat around the U.S. last month, making it the 11th warmest July on record. And the sweltering temperatures the last three months brought the warmest May through July on record, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Let’s see how July 2018 and the year to date fared in terms of the climate record:

Climate by the numbers

July 2018

The average July temperature across the contiguous U.S. was 75.5 degrees F (1.9 degrees above average), tying 1998 as the 11th warmest July in the 124-year record.

For California, July was off the charts: The state saw its hottest July and hottest month on record with an average temperature of 79.7 degrees F.

The average precipitation for July was 2.8 inches (0.02 of an inch above average), which ranked near the middle of the record books. An active monsoon season brought a parade of heavy thunderstorms to the Southwest, while parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland endured record and near-record precipitation, respectively.

Year to date // January through July 2018

The average U.S. temperature for the year to date (January through July) was 53.1 degrees F (1.9 degrees above normal). The period from May through July  was the warmest on record at 70.9 degrees F (3.4 degrees above average).

It was the 11th warmest YTD on record with an average precipitation total of 18.65 inches, (0.56 of an inch above average).

More notable climate events

Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels
All Weather News
More
Severe Storms in the Midwest Could Dampen Holiday Plans

Severe Storms in the Midwest Could Dampen Holiday Plans

NORTHERN PLAINS - A frontal system is expecte

4 Jul 2025 3:20 AM
Near Seasonal Temperatures for Many Come July 4th!

Near Seasonal Temperatures for Many Come July 4th!

AAA is expecting over 70 million travelers to

4 Jul 2025 3:15 AM
NHC Monitoring Front in the Southeast Ahead of 4th of July

NHC Monitoring Front in the Southeast Ahead of 4th of July

Tropical downpours for a long holiday weekend

4 Jul 2025 3:10 AM
Flossie is No More, Eastern Pacific Remains Active

Flossie is No More, Eastern Pacific Remains Active

Post Tropical FlossieThe National Hurricane C

4 Jul 2025 3:05 AM
Northeast Severe Threat on Thursday

Northeast Severe Threat on Thursday

NORTHEAST -A shortwave trough will swing thro

3 Jul 2025 8:05 PM
Northwest Heat Met With Thunderstorm Risk

Northwest Heat Met With Thunderstorm Risk

NORTHWEST - Today, portions of Montana are un

3 Jul 2025 12:00 AM
Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

It has been an active, severe season across t

30 Jun 2025 9:00 PM