AXIOS (Alex Fitzpatrick) - The U.S. just had its hottest month on record
Reproduced from NOAA ; Chart: Axios Visuals July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S., per new federal data dating back to 1895. By the numbers: Last month's average temperature was 76.89°F, topping the 76.77°F mark set in July 1936. - That's 3.3°F warmer than the 1901-2000 average. What they're saying: "Above-average temperatures covered the entire [continental U.S.], with all states ranking in the warmest third of their July temperature records and none ranking near or below average," NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said in its monthly report . The big picture: July featured a series of "heat domes" across the country that trapped warm air beneath them, fueling several extreme heat events. -…