Just a relatively short diary here, but this headline was just issued by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration:
NOAA: July 2012 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States
Drought expands to cover nearly 63 percent of the Lower 48; wildfires consume 2 million acres
Amazingly, July 2012 beat out July 1936, the worst month of the Dust Bowl era, with an average temperature of 77.6°F, 0.2°F over the July 1936 value. Virginia had it's warmest July on record, while 7 other states had their 2nd warmest July on record, while 25 other states were among the top 10.
July 2012 over the U.S. as a whole wasn't significantly dry at all. However, four Midwestern states had a July among the 10 driest (IL, MO, IA, and NE) while Maine had its 5th driest July. The hot weather exacerbated previously existing dryness. I have to believe that early greenup, resulting in earlier than normal demand on soil moisture stores, plus the warm, dry winter, weren't any help either.
Drought was prevalent across the country, with 63.9% of the CONUS in drought on 24 July, the highest value on record since 1900 using the Palmer Drought Severity Index. It was wet in the Southwest with a stronger than normal summer monsoon.
Some select records set in July can be seen here.
More later in another diary, but I wanted to get this out.