Southeast Heat Kills at Least 6; No Rain in Sight

The Southeast continued to swelter Monday in a heat wave that has killed at least six people, and while some areas received rain during the weekend, the region faced increasing problems from drought.

“They talk about this heat index (combination of heat and humidity) and it was 102 out there today and with the heat index it was about 111,” said Ken McDowell, a mail carrier in Charleston, S.C.

“After you’re on the street an hour or so you’re soaked all the way through and you stay wet all day,” he said. “That’s about the most miserable thing, that you’re soaked all the time.”

Columbia, S.C., hit 101 degrees Monday for a record eighth consecutive day of 100 degrees or above. Augusta, Ga., recorded 104 degrees, tying a record.

Humidity in 50% Range

Highs were expected to approach 100 degrees at least through today, with humidity in the 50% range, as a high-pressure system sits over the region, weather officials said.

Two deaths have been blamed on the heat in Georgia, two in North Carolina, one in South Carolina and one in Virginia.

Georgia poultry producers and processors said the heat has killed more than 400,000 chickens.

Besides the heat, rainfall this year is 15 to 20 inches lower than normal in South and North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Parts of Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware also are below normal.

Weekend thunderstorms dropped an inch of rain on much of Maryland, but it was not enough to alleviate the drought, officials said.

The South Carolina Water Resources Commission declared a severe drought alert for 13 counties, allowing regional committees to restrict non-essential water use. Residents in Columbia have been using water faster than city tanks can refill, city spokesman John Spade said.