Western US Heat Records

In addition to drought, five western US states recorded record temperatures for June. July and August are usually the hottest months, and they probably will be again, possibly setting yet more records. The heat is exacerbating the drought because it removes moisture at the same time there’s a rainfall and snowpack deficit. A likely cause is the very warm Pacific Ocean, a blob of warm water that will take months to dissipate. In the meantime, the lawns get brown and wells drain aquifers.

(Click on the map for the link.)

“Record Warmth Continues To Bake US West” – Climate Central