Nestled in the Mojave Desert, the City of Needles, California has always experienced high summer temperatures. Last month, temps there broke new records. With a preliminary average of 103.2 degrees in July, Needles recorded the hottest monthly average temperature of any city in the United States.
That dubious distinction previously belonged to Phoenix, Arizona, which had recorded a monthly average of 102.7 degrees last July.
“Phoenix is happy to relinquish the record to Needles, now the hottest monthly U.S. city,” the Arizona State Climate Office wrote on X.
According to SF Gate, Needles “experienced stretches of daytime temperatures approaching or exceeding 120 degrees followed by nighttime temperatures well into the 90s throughout July. The nighttime low temperature in Needles was 96 degrees on five separate days last month.”
Two other California cities — Palm Springs and Blythe — experienced a monthly average in the 100-degree range last month.