70 Days Of Triple-Digit Heat In North Texas
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Just two months ago, many North Texans were disappointed when we did not break the record for the most consecutive days above 100 degrees, which was set at 42 days back in 1980. The area fell just two days short of smashing that mark.
Well, you wanted a heat record? You are about to get one!
Although temperatures on Tuesday morning started out mild in the 70s, mercury will soar into the triple digits by the afternoon hours, for the 70th day this year. That will take down the current record of 69 days, which was also set in 1980.
Some people might be happy to see a record get broken, however, this extreme heat has been dangerous in many cases. The Dallas County Medical Examiner announced that 17 people died this summer from heat-related causes – most recently a 60-year-old man who passed away on August 23 from hyperthermia. Another 20 deaths are being investigated as heat-related.
Plus, the heat has led to a severe statewide drought, which helped spark wildfires across Texas. The flames destroyed hundreds of homes and blackened hundreds of thousands of acres of land.
But a break in the heat is coming by the end of the week. A cold front is moving into North Texas, which should bring a return to pleasant temperatures – at least comparatively – in the 90s. (Click here to see the complete weather forecast.)
