Publication Date June 30, 2015 | Mashable

Heat dome parked over West shatters temperature records, sparks fires

United States
A plane drops a load of retardant on a wildfire north of Lompoc, California, Monday, June 29, 2015. Photo: Associated Press
A plane drops a load of retardant on a wildfire north of Lompoc, California, Monday, June 29, 2015. Photo: Associated Press

The West baked under a heat dome in late June, 2015 that sent temperatures soaring to historically high levels, further drying out soils and priming the region for fast-spreading wildfires. The heat wave is noteworthy for its severity, extent and duration...

From June 23 - 30, 2015, 465 warm temperature records were set or tied across the country, mainly in the West, with 49 monthly warm temperature records set or tied