July Likely to Be Hottest Month on Record in the US - and More Dangerous Heat Is on the Way July is typically the warmest month of the year, but this month could break records as the hottest ever in the United States. Temperatures have remained above average for 260 million Americans in recent weeks, according to meteorologist Ben Knoll, who highlighted the extreme conditions in a social media post. New York City experienced its hottest day since July 2012, while Salt Lake City, Utah, recorded its highest temperature since record-keeping began 152 years ago. These extreme heat events, driven by climate change, are becoming the "new normal," according to Steven Cohen, director of the sustainability management program at Columbia University, who told NPR. The current supercharged El Nino climate pattern has intensified the situation. El Nino brings warmer and drier weather to the northern and central U.S., while the South experiences wetter and more humid conditions. This pattern has contributed to the formation of multiple deadly heat domes this July, with additional ones expected. Heat domes are high-pressure atmospheric systems that trap heat over regions for days or weeks, creating life-threatening conditions. These phenomena have already been linked to at least 70 deaths in states like Mississippi and Illinois, according to a tally of local health data from The Washington Post. New Jersey reported 29 fatalities during the first of two oppressive East Coast heat domes that occurred during the Fourth of July weekend. The first dome disrupted celebrations, caused rail lines to buckle, and led to widespread discomfort. However, the threat remains active. Another heat dome is set to affect the West this weekend, raising temperatures near 120 degrees in California and Arizona.#new_york_city #columbia_university #el_nino #salt_lake_city #drought
