US Forecasters Say Heat Will Stay On This Summer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Meteorologists say America's unusually warm year is likely to extend through the summer. And that's a bad sign for wildfires in the West.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's forecast for June through August calls for warmer-than-normal weather for about three-quarters of the nation. Only the northwestern U.S. and Alaska are predicted to be cooler than average.

The stretch from last May until April was the hottest 12-month period on record for the nation. Records go back to 1895.

Meteorologist Greg Carbin said Wednesday that the forecast is especially troublesome for the West and wildfires. There have already been some fires because of the dry weather and soil.