What You Need to Know
• Approximately 40% of the U.S. and Puerto Rico faced drought conditions at the end of July 2023.
• Texas Hill Country received over 28 inches of rain from July 13 to 17, causing significant flash flooding.
• July 2023 was one of the hottest months on record for 13 states, with Wyoming experiencing its warmest July ever.
At the end of July 2023, approximately 40% of the United States and Puerto Rico were affected by drought, as reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Despite these drought conditions, certain areas, such as Texas Hill Country, experienced intense rainfall, with over 28 inches recorded from July 13 to 17, leading to damaging flash floods. Additionally, July was notably hot, ranking among the top five warmest Julys for 13 states, while Wyoming recorded its hottest July and month ever, with temperatures 5.1 degrees above average. Heat waves impacted nearly every region of the U.S., and multiple locations set new all-time high temperature records on July 12, including 115 degrees in Miles City, Montana.
Why It Matters
The extreme weather patterns observed in July 2023 highlight ongoing climate challenges faced by the United States and other regions. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s findings reflect a significant portion of the country grappling with drought, while the heavy rainfall in Texas and New York underscores the unpredictable nature of weather events. Historical data indicates that rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are increasingly common, contributing to both drought and flooding. This duality of weather extremes poses risks to agriculture, water supply, and infrastructure across affected regions.
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