Lingering Heat Wave Topples Records in East

A lingering heat wave that sent temperatures near 100 in New York City, the Lower Plains and central Texas boosted the allure of beaches and pools Saturday but marred the debut of Kupala the koala.

“The Philadelphia weather is not bothering him, but it is bothering our guests,” said Philadelphia Zoo spokeswoman Milly Hudgins, who estimated attendance was down. Kupala’s private, air-conditioned exhibit was regulated at 74 degrees, compared with about 95 outside.

Some who braved the weather paid a price. More than 100 people at an air show in Dayton, Ohio, were treated for heat exhaustion, said Dr. Michael Boyle, an adviser for the Dayton Air Show.

For the fourth day in a row, an ozone warning was issued for New York City, where the temperature hit 100 degrees. The last time the city recorded a three-digit temperature was July 21, 1980, when the mercury reached 102. The state Department of Environmental Conservation urged residents to limit outdoor activity and use of cars, which produce ozone.

The demand for power in the city and suburban Westchester County was the highest ever for a Saturday, according to Consolidated Edison spokeswoman Pat Richardi. Utilities also reported record power demand in Chicago and Detroit, where temperatures hit 100 and 96 respectively.

New Jersey officials ordered residents of parched Morris County, west of Newark, to restrict outdoor watering. Several employees of the Southeast Morris Utility Authority looked for violations Saturday.

“The employees are instructed to be courteous and informative, and if people are not cooperative, they will call the police,” said spokesman Harry Gerken.

The temperature at Washington National Airport reached 98 degrees by the afternoon, and humidity raised the so-called heat index to 106, the weather service said.

In northern Maryland, the heat created extreme drought for the first time since 1988, weather analysts said.

Late-planted corn and soybeans are becoming stunted in parts of Baltimore County, said county extension agent Mike Bazley.