Record Setting Heatwave Comes To End In Central and Eastern U.S.

The National Weather Service says after setting both daily and all-time records, the relentless heat wave that had been gripping much of the central and eastern U.S. has come to an end.

It said temperatures in the central and eastern U.S. should be returning to near-normal.

Meanwhile, strong to severe thunderstorms are possible for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and monsoonal moisture will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the southern Rockies.

The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during June was 71.2°F, which is 2.0°F above the 20th century average.

Scorching temperatures during the second half of the month led to at least 170 all-time high temperature records broken or tied.

The June temperatures contributed to a record-warm first half of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.