July hottest month in US record

A damaged corn crop in Harvey County, in central Kansas August 7, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The past July registered the hottest month in US record, with 63 percent of contiguous United States affected by drought and 2 million acres of land consumed by wildfire, according to a report released by an official US scientific research agency on Wednesday.

The contiguous United States refers to all 50 US states but the states of Alaska and Hawaii and the country's off-shore territories.

July's average temperature for the contiguous United States was 77.6 degrees Fahrenheit (25.3 degrees Celsius), 3.3 degrees above the 20th century average, making it the country's hottest month on record, according to a report done by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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

The heat was accompanied by drought. The country was drier than average, with a nationally averaged precipitation total of 2.57 inches, 0.19 inch below average.

Near-record dry conditions were present for the middle of the nation, with the drought expanding to cover nearly 63 percent of contiguous United States.

The warm and dry conditions over a large portion of the country were associated with ideal wildfire conditions. Over 2 million acres were burned nationwide during July due to wildfires, nearly half a million acres above average.

NOAA is a US federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.