US | heat More than Half of US in Drought Conditions meet definition in 56% of continental US By John Johnson Posted Jul 5, 2012 7:26 PM CDT Copied John Rohlfing, 38, takes a drink as he works on the construction of his new home in North Aurora, Ill. (AP Photo/Robert Ray) Two stats of note to drive home just how hot it has been and continues to be: Parched earth: Drought conditions now exist in 56% of the continental US, the biggest percentage in the 12 years that records have been kept by the weekly Drought Monitor, reports MSNBC. The heat already is taking a toll on crops. Record heat: Across the US, more than 3,000 temperature records were broken from June 28 through yesterday, according to AccuWeather.com. They include record highs and maximum lows. One example: St. Louis' high of 105 on July Fourth. Read These Next The 8 Democrats who bucked party on shutdown have something in common. Here's where things stand in the House ahead of shutdown vote. Hormone therapy for menopause was unfairly demonized, says the FDA. Senate votes to end shutdown in deal Sanders calls 'horrific.' Report an error