Government data shows the United States is continuing its trend of extreme weather, with this summer now officially the third hottest on record for the lower 48 states. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the national average temperature from June to August was more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average. June and August were both warmer than average, while July was the hottest month on record. Meanwhile, the United States continues to be plagued by drought, with nearly 63 percent of the contiguous United States experiencing drought conditions at the end of last month. Warm and dry conditions in the West helped fuel wildfires that consumed 3.6 million acres nationwide, more than twice the August average.