The heat wave that broiled the central and eastern U.S. this summer and continues to rack the South was the fourth hottest July on record.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made the declaration Monday from its National Climatic Data Center. The average temperature across the country in July was 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.7 degrees warmer than the long-term average for the month from 1901-2000.
The heat didn't just cause discomfort, but also record drought conditions, NOAA reported. During July hot temperatures resulted in the largest 'exceptional' drought footprint in the 12 years the U.S. Drought Monitor has existed. 'Exceptional' is the most severe category for droughts.
Rainfall during July was down .32 inches on the long-term average. Drought conditions this year are as dry or even drier than those during the historic droughts in the 1930s and 1950s.
While nationwide July was the fourth hottest on record, Oklahoma and Texas recorded their warmest Julys, according to NOAA. In Oklahoma City in particular, July was their hottest month ever with an average temperature of 89.2 degrees, beating the record of 88.7 degrees set in August 1936.
Oklahoma and Texas weren't the only states to make hottest-ever records. Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. also recorded its warmest month ever this past July. The average temperature of 84.5 degrees broke the record of 83.1 degrees set in July 2010 and July 1993.
South continues to roast from heat wave
The southern US continues to suffer from the heat this week, despite relief throughout the rest of the country.
The National Weather Service expected hot and humid conditions to remain across parts of the southern Plains and into the Southeast through Tuesday with daytime heat index values soaring to between 105 and 115 degrees.
Dallas was predicted to see a high of 109 during the week.
Excessive heat watches and warnings were in effect for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Mississippi.
Heat advisories were also issued across parts of the southern Plains, Gulf Coast states and the Southeast including the Carolinas and Georgia.
Overnight lows will do little to cool the region, with temperatures barely dropping into the 70s in much of the south central U.S., the weather service said.
Austin, Texas continues its triple-digit streak with an anticipated 23rd consecutive day of over-100 temperatures. That record in the state's capital was broken on Sunday on the 22nd day, and according to the Texas Forest Service, the extremely hot and dry conditions in Texas are expected to stay "for the foreseeable future."
The weather means fire watches are in effect in a handful of counties in north Texas, and burn bans still cover 248 of the state's 254 counties.
Severe storms in the Midwest
While the south looks for heat relief this week, the Midwest braced for severe weather Monday.
Thunderstorms were expected across much of the Midwest with slight risk of severe weather including high winds, hail and heavy rain across the central Plains toward the Ohio Valley, said Rick Shanklin, National Weather Service meteorologist in Kansas City, Missouri.
Reports of damaging wind were recorded during thunderstorms over the weekend from South Dakota to Kansas and east across much of Missouri, Shanklin said.
Along with the storms, cooler air was expected to migrate into the region, Shanklin said.
Thunderstorms were also expected to hit the Northeast on Monday, according to AccuWeather.com.