Midwest, South Roast in 100+ Degree Heat

29 states remain under heat advisories

(NEWSER) - 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. “In this heat, it's not just about discomfort,” an expert said. It’s about “survival.” More»

Find yourself a meat locker and stay there

(NEWSER) - Another wave of oppressive heat clamped down on a broad swath of Eastern states yesterday and today, reports the AP, with temperatures in the high 90s and 100s and residents scrambling for shade or just staying indoors. In the Mid-Atlantic, already the locus for brutal temperatures several times in July, weather experts warned of dangerous conditions and residents resigned themselves to coping with the discomfort. "Oh, it's disgusting. It's already really hot," complained one meteorologist in Washington, DC. More»

Experts offer tips for saving money on air-conditioning

(NEWSER) - Almost one-fifth of Americans' spending on utilities goes toward keeping cool, but the total doesn't have to be that high, reports USA Today . With most of the US in the grip of a heat wave , some pointers for becoming less reliant on less air-conditioning and lowering your electric bill:

• Get wet: Running cool water over pulse points in your wrists and splashing your face or temples can lower your body temperature.

And maple trees did not produce nearly as much as usual

(NEWSER) - 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 maple trees require freezing temperatures at night in order to continue producing sap, so this year many of them either dried up early or produced the aforementioned “yucky” syrup. More»

March, in particular, was unseasonably warm

(NEWSER) - If you found yourself thinking last month, "Wow, it's awfully hot for March," you weren't wrong. Temperatures were 8.6 degrees higher than normal last month in the contiguous US, and 6 degrees above average for January, February, and March, the AP reports. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's calculations, that's much higher than past temperature records. Why? Weather patterns including La Nina have come together in unusual ways, meteorologists say, and many are concerned climate change is a factor. More»