Record heat spread across a wide area...

Record heat spread across a wide area east of the Rockies, causing power outages in Boston and simmering Lake Erie water temperatures to a record 80 degrees. New England sizzled as temperatures soared into the 90s with hazy sun and high humidity. Power outages caused by huge demand for air conditioning in and around Boston left thousands without electricity. The heat again baked Philadelphia, where the temperature climbed to 95--the hottest Aug. 14 since official city weather records began in 1874, the National Weather Service said. Philadelphia also added another day to its record of consecutive days with 90 degrees or higher and to its record of 90-degree days--47--in one summer. While Washington and Baltimore sweltered in the high 90s, the temperature shot up to record highs in cities in at least seven states, including 96 in Syracuse, N.Y., and a record-tying 100 in Des Moines.