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In 2022, the continental United States experienced its , according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their in the same month. The year prior, July marked the .

Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The has climbed each decade since 1880 by about .14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total.

compiled a ranking of the hottest Mays in North Carolina since 1895 using data from the . Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation.

#10. May 1965
- Average temperature: 70.3°F
- Monthly high temperature: 82.8°F
- Monthly low temperature: 57.8°F
- Total precipitation: 2.94"

#9. May 1944
- Average temperature: 70.4°F
- Monthly high temperature: 83.8°F
- Monthly low temperature: 57.1°F
- Total precipitation: 2.83"

#8. May 1991
- Average temperature: 70.5°F
- Monthly high temperature: 80.8°F
- Monthly low temperature: 60.2°F
- Total precipitation: 3.14"

#7. May 1962
- Average temperature: 70.8°F
- Monthly high temperature: 83.8°F
- Monthly low temperature: 57.8°F
- Total precipitation: 2.49"

#5. May 2004 (tie)
- Average temperature: 71.1°F
- Monthly high temperature: 82.3°F
- Monthly low temperature: 59.9°F
- Total precipitation: 3.99"

#5. May 1933 (tie)
- Average temperature: 71.1°F
- Monthly high temperature: 83.4°F
- Monthly low temperature: 58.8°F
- Total precipitation: 4.48"

#4. May 2018
- Average temperature: 71.6°F
- Monthly high temperature: 81.9°F
- Monthly low temperature: 61.4°F
- Total precipitation: 6.79"

#3. May 1953
- Average temperature: 71.8°F
- Monthly high temperature: 83.9°F
- Monthly low temperature: 59.8°F
- Total precipitation: 3.3"

#2. May 2019
- Average temperature: 72.2°F
- Monthly high temperature: 83.7°F
- Monthly low temperature: 60.6°F
- Total precipitation: 2.28"

#1. May 1896
- Average temperature: 72.7°F
- Monthly high temperature: 84.1°F
- Monthly low temperature: 61.2°F
- Total precipitation: 4.62"