Wyatt Young, 5, cools off in a fountain set up outside Busch Stadium before a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins Friday, July 6, 2012, in St. Louis. Excessive-heat warnings remained in place Friday for all of Iowa, Indiana and Illinois as well as much of Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Kentucky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A scorching heat wave that affected much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, setting an astonishing number of temperature records, has ended across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic.
While the heat wave wave subsides across portions of the East, scorching heat shifts into the West.
Helping to break down the heat in the South will be a zone of drenching showers and thunderstorms from Texas to North Carolina and southern Virginia.
Meteorologist Bill Deger reports that at least 75 deaths were attributed to the intense heat.
More than 3,840 temperature records were shattered in the U.S. from July 1- 8, 2012, according to NOAA. The tally of record high temperatures during the time period is 2,476, and the tally of maximum low temperature records is 1,365.
Since the beginning of July, 142 all-time record highs have been set or tied across 19 states.
Some cities also went down in the record books challenging record streaks of brutal high temperatures.
St. Louis was located in the heart of the heat wave. The mercury soared to 100 degrees or higher for ten days in a row in St. Louis through Saturday, making it the second longest streak of 100-degree temperatures since 1936.
Chicago's temperature has climbed to 100 degrees or higher for 3 consecutive days Wednesday through Friday. This is the first time since August of 1947 that Chicago hit 100 or higher for 3 days in a row. This streak has since broken as temperatures cooled Saturday afternoon, reaching 98.
Saturday became the 4th consecutive day of 100 degree plus high temperatures in Fort Wayne, Ind. This broke the old record of consecutive 100 degree days which was set in 1988.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., hit 95 degrees or higher for the eleventh consecutive day on Sunday, the longest streak ever recorded. That streak will end tomorrow as cooler air slides in from the north.
The storm responsible for the wind, cold, rain and snow in the Northeast Friday and Saturday will slowly ease up for the balance of the holiday weekend.
A few days after a chilly storm departs the Northeast, warm weather will make a strong comeback in parts of the Midwest and the East later next week.
During Sunday's race, the skies will be variably cloudy with the risk of a few showers.
"This pup was literally singing when he saw his family," Michelle Karolicki, relocation program manager of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, said about a reunion that took place on Thursday.
Another plunge of chilly air will set the stage for the risk of a frost and freeze centered Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and other nearby states this weekend.
Downpours and locally severe thunderstorms over the Central states will not only foil holiday weekend activities, but will also put some lives at risk.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
New England (1967)
(25th-26th) Coastal New England battered by a
great Nor'easter. Winds mounted to 70-80 mph
on the coast. Blue Hill had sustained
winds of 60 mph and Logan had sustained
winds of 50 mph. Lowest pressure of 29.30"
was measured over the ocean; 5-10" of snow
fell in the Berkshires with considerable damage
to the tobacco crop in the Connecticut River
Valley. Temperature dropped to 31 degrees at
Pittsfield on the 30th for a remarkable end
of May freeze.
Illinois (1917)
A tornado of long duration was observed for
7 hours and 20 minutes and was said to extend
293 miles. The storm struck Mattoon and
Charleston, killing 70 people.
Cut Bank, MT (1982)
35 degrees with a mix of snow and rain. The
high temperature from the previous day was 78.
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