United States government scientists say July 2019 was the hottest month on record worldwide. The average temperature in July was almost one degree Celsius higher than the 20th century average of 15.78 degrees. That made it the hottest July on our planet over the past 140 years, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. July 2019 also was the hottest month on record in the northwestern state of Alaska. Sea ice melted. Bering Sea fish swam in above-normal temperatures. So did children in the city of Nome, Alaska. The state’s wildfire season started early and stayed late. Walruses and other sea creatures appeared in large numbers along the coast. Alaska’s average temperature in July was 14.5 degrees Celsius. That is 3 degrees above average, NOAA reported.