Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have confirmed what many in America had already suspected: For the lower 48 states, last month was the hottest month on record.

"The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during July was 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average, marking the hottest July and the hottest month on record for the nation," said NOAA in their latest State of the Climate report.

But as scorching hot as July was, it's far from an anomaly. "The warm July temperatures contributed to a record-warm first seven months of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895," the NOAA report continued.

In addition to being exceptionally warm, the contiguous US is also extremely dry, with the averaged precipitation total being 0.19 inch below normal.

Jake Crouch, a climate scientist from the National Climatic Data Center in North Carolina, did not mince words when speaking about the record-setting heat, telling the Associated Press the effects of global warming were directly to blame.

[photo via AP]