ATHENS — Georgia's state climatologist's office says June was one of the hottest on record in various Georgia cities, and the warmest ever recorded in Columbus.

And so far, July looks to be cooking up more of the same.

Assistant climatologist Pam Knox said Friday the average temperature for the month in Columbus was 84.4 degrees, 5.2 degrees above normal for June and the highest for the 64 Junes for which records have been kept for the west Georgia city.

"If it felt hot, it's because it was," state climatologist David Stooksbury said.

A few cities just missed setting records for June.

Macon averaged 82.9 degrees, 4.9 degrees above normal and the second-highest average for the 119 years records have been kept there. Atlanta was at 81.2 degrees, 4.4 degrees above normal and third in 133 years of record-keeping.

Knox said Atlanta's high for June was set in 1952, at 82.3 degrees, while 2010 was second at 81.4.

Stooksbury said the continued drought helped keep the average down by allowing temperatures to fall a little more at night.

"When it's dry, you're able to have a greater range between highs and lows," he said.

Savannah's average was 83 degrees, 4.2 degrees above normal and sixth in 141 years of record-keeping and Augusta's was 82.4, 4.6 degrees above normal and eighth all-time. Athens averaged 81, 4.7 degrees above normal and eighth on its 155-year list.

Knox said rainfall was below normal for most of the state except Savannah in June. Stooksbury said he expects hot, dry weather to continue, except for the state's mountain areas, into August, when tropical systems could affect temperatures and moisture.

Temperatures across Northeast Georgia are forecast to reach the low 90s, with only a slight chance of a shower to ease the sweltering heat.