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More than Half of US in Drought

Conditions meet definition in 56% of continental US
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2012 7:26 PM CDT
More than Half of US in Drought
John Rohlfing, 38, takes a drink as he works on the construction of his new home in North Aurora, Ill.   (AP Photo/Robert Ray)

Two stats of note to drive home just how hot it has been and continues to be:

  • Parched earth: Drought conditions now exist in 56% of the continental US, the biggest percentage in the 12 years that records have been kept by the weekly Drought Monitor, reports MSNBC. The heat already is taking a toll on crops.
  • Record heat: Across the US, more than 3,000 temperature records were broken from June 28 through yesterday, according to AccuWeather.com. They include record highs and maximum lows. One example: St. Louis' high of 105 on July Fourth.
(More heat stories.)

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