Heat Wave

We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave. Sounds like a song we used to hear years ago. But the heat wave is definitely here. It is 92 degrees and the heat index is over 100. I do not like hot days like this. My best weather is 70 with a cool breeze. The humidity is terrible right now and sounds like tomorrow will be the same. We have a family reunion on Saturday and it is to be a bit cooler. I hope they are right.

Heat Wave

We have a terrific heat wave going on right now. Our air conditioner is running full-time and having trouble keeping up. It is set on 78 and is keeping it at 80 now. They say the temperature outside is 90 with a heat index of 104. We are retired and able to stay inside but I sure feel sorry for those who have to work outside in this weather. We are supposed to have a cold wave go through tonight. I use the term "cold" loosely because it will only drop the nighttime temps down to maybe 60 which is still warm. We will probably have a storm but they talk about it going NE of us. I hope so.

More heat Wave Deaths

The heat wave that scorched California a year ago may have contributed to hundreds more deaths than the state has officially reported. As recently as last month, state officials reported that the two-week ordeal of triple digit temperatures that began on July 14, 2006, killed 143 people. Statistics compiled by the Associated Press from each of California's 58 counties show the number of deaths last July was 466 higher than the average over the previous six years. This is a spike many health officials attribute to the broiling heat.

Greeks Swelter In The Heat

After days of record high temperatures that led to at least nine heatstroke deaths and extensive power outages, wildfires swept through Greece killing two people and destroying homes. Two men died trapped in flames after abandoning their truck on a forest fire outside the central Greek city of Larissa. A third man in the truck escaped unharmed. Temperatures remained below 104 in most parts of the country with a high of 105.8 in Athens. Emergency warnings remained in effect in most areas.

30 Deaths From Heat

There have been nearly 30 deaths blamed of this year's first major heat wave in Southeastern Europe. They have been baking in soaring temperatures. It has really put a strain on air conditioning use in Greece and Albania in particular. It was 104 degrees in Athens on Friday with a top temperature of 113 recorded on the island of Rhodes. Romania was particularly hard hit. In the last few days 19 people have died from the heat. That included 14 in the capital, Bucharest. At least 7 people died in Serbia and in neighboring Macedonia, there were numerous calls from the elderly suffering cardiac and asthma problems. At least 3 people died due to heat in Albania, including a mother of four who collapsed while ending her fields. It is so sad and the heat has just begun there.