The U.S. just had its hottest summer, tying with "Dust Bowl" year of 1936

The past three months of disaster-filled weather across the lower 48 states ranks in a statistical dead heat with the Dust Bowl year of 1936 as the hottest summer on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Thursday.

Why it matters: A record 18.4% of the contiguous U.S. experienced record-warm temperatures this summer, while five states — California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah — reported their hottest summers on record.

Sixteen additional states had a top-five warmest summer on record. No state ranked below average for the summer season.

By the numbers: The the average temperature...