Axios

Phoenix in July became the first major city in the country to reach an average monthly temperature higher than 100°F.

By the numbers: Phoenix's average July temperature of 102.7°F marked its hottest month on record, shattering the previous record of 99.1°F in August 2020.

A massive wildfire in California's Mojave National Preserve that exploded in size and spilled into Nevada over the weekend is threatening wildlife and Joshua tree forests.

The big picture: The wind-driven York Fire is California's largest wildfire this year. It's burning uncontained across some 77,000 acres and was one of 64 large fires burning across nine states as of Monday.

Antarctica is missing over 1 million square miles of floating sea ice, even though it's currently the dead of winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Why it matters: Scientists don't know what is driving the shortfall, but they are deeply concerned about its consequences, as sea ice influences the planet's climate, global ocean currents and marine ecosystems.

Phoenix endured its 31st straight day of temperatures of at least 110°F Sunday, as a California wildfire spread into Nevada and another blaze threatened border communities in Washington state and Canada.

Driving the news: The UN's World Meteorological Organization notes climate change has "spurred a surge" in extreme weather reports — including Canada's historic wildfires and the dangerous, ongoing record heat wave in the U.S. and other countries.