heat news stories on Newser

Hot Weather Leads to 'Yucky' Maple Syrup

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:48:38 CDT

The record high temperatures in March resulted in maple syrup that one syrup distributor refers to as simply “yucky,” and total syrup output in the US fell as much as 40%, Reuters reports. "It was kind of a disaster," the company owner says with regard to the 2012 season. Sugar...

Boston Marathon Kicks Off Amid 'Dangerous' Heat

Kevin Spak — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:26:19 CDT

The Boston Marathon kicked off this morning, despite heat forecasts so high that organizers urged runners to consider sitting the race out. Temperatures are expected to hit 88 degrees by 2pm, which would be a record and drastically higher than normal, according to the Boston Herald . "We had to consider...

Austin Breaks Cruel Record: 70 Days of 100-Degree Heat

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:48:05 CDT

This isn't the kind of record that locals are likely to boast of with pride: Austin, Texas, today broke a record set in 1925 for the most days of 100-plus-degree heat. At 2pm a temperature of 100 degrees was recorded, making today the 70th day of triple-degree heat, reports the...

July Broke, Tied 2,676 Heat Records

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:58:39 CDT

If you live anywhere in the "eastern two-thirds of the United States," you may have noticed that last month was hot. Really hot. So hot that high temperatures broke or tied 2,676 records, which is nearly twice the number from the same period last year, according to the National...

Daytime Heat Is Bad; Nighttime Heat Is Deadly

Tim Karan — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:34:57 CDT

The sun can be brutal during this record heat wave , but it's overnight temperatures that should really worry you, writes Christopher Mims at Grist . In June, Oman recorded the world's highest minimum temperature ever (107.1 degrees), and in many places, minimum night temperatures are rising even faster than daytime...

National Weather Service: 'Do Not Take Threat Lightly'

Matt Cantor — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:01:06 CDT

Twenty-nine states are under advisories as a blistering heat wave continues, MSNBC reports. East Coast temps are projected to hit highs in the 90s and 100s, says a meteorologist, but the heat index—what it feels like—could be closer to 115 degrees through tomorrow, says the National Weather Service....

13 Dead as Heat Wave Broils US

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:41:39 CDT

The heat wave currently plaguing the US has broken more than 1,000 heat records and claimed 13 lives, the BBC reports. Eighteen states from Montana to West Virginia are under a National Weather Service heat advisory, with temperatures reaching more than 90 degrees in many states and the heat...

US Swelters in Massive Heat Wave

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:19:57 CDT

Sorry, Americans: No matter where you live, you can expect a hot day—and week. A heat wave that started yesterday is expected to continue scorching the middle of the country as it spreads east, with Plains states experiencing highs topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit today. Much of the rest of...

US Sizzling in Record Heat

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 02:20:00 CDT

The US is still sizzling in triple-digit temperatures as record heat threatens fireworks displays. Santa Barbara County has set up special cooling centers in libraries, senior centers and other community facilities as California struggles in 100+ degree heat, along with much of the Southwest and the lower Mississippi Valley. Several...