Cool Front Brings Some Relief but Heat Still Punishes Nation

A heat wave pushed temperatures into the 90s again Sunday over much of the nation east of the Rockies, but a cool front from Canada brought some relief around the Great Lakes and Northeast, along with more thunderstorms.

At least 12 deaths have been blamed on the heat in five states.

Sunday was the 10th consecutive day in the 90s at Chicago and Rockford, Ill. Both cities passed 90 just after noon and humidity ranged from 55% to 65%. To the south, Peoria, Ill., hit 100 for the first time since 1983.

Denver hit 95, for its ninth consecutive 90-degree day, but with lower humidity than in the East, and fire warnings were issued for the mountains in the area. In the normally hot Southwest, Needles and Palm Springs, Calif., hit 109 and 111, respectively, and Phoenix hit 111.

In the South, the National Weather Service issued poultry alerts in Louisiana and Mississippi, warning producers that temperatures in the high 90s would put stress on their birds.

Temperatures headed for the high 90s over parts of Georgia, where humidity over the weekend was 80% and up, and in the Carolinas. Greer, S.C., passed its record of 99 for the date early in the afternoon.

But the weak cold front and the thunderstorms made a big difference in parts of the Northeast.

New York City hit 95 on Saturday, its ninth day in a row in the 90s. But on Sunday, the temperature in Central Park rose to 86 at noon, then dived to 69 at 1 p.m. during a thunderstorm, recovered only to 72 at 2 p.m. and later rose to 79.

Hot and Cool Air Clash

Severe thunderstorm watches were posted for parts of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and south into West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia as the cooler air clashed with the stale hot air. Storms also broke out in Minnesota and rolled across eastern Iowa and Wisconsin into Illinois and Indiana.

A thunderstorm with a possible tornado ripped up hundreds of trees and brought down dozens of power lines at Mountainside, N.J., borough administrator Jim Roberts said. Around the state, an estimated 25,000 customers lost electrical service during a wave of storms, utility officials said.

Temperatures behind the front were mostly in the 80s.

Relief from the heat may be too late for some farmers in southeastern and eastern Virginia, which has had heat and no rain for more than two weeks. Corn crops are withering, and cucumbers and snap beans were wiped out in some spots.