※  Unrelenting heat wave bakes US

The U.S. suffered an unrelenting heat wave from June to July of 2012. The persistent heat left at least 74 people dead. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature of the first six months of 2012 have broken the old record set in 1895. The record heat also brought droughts to central and western America, leaving the United States facing its worst drought since the 1950s.

It was reported that the heat on July 8 sent temperatures to soar above 38 C in cities, including a record 40.5 C in Washington, 41C in St Louis 41, and 40C in Indianapolis. The boiling temperatures deformed highways and even caused a Washington-area train to derail.

The National Drought Mitigation Center released a report indicating that 42 percent of the United States was experiencing a severe, extreme or exceptional drought, and more than 80 percent of the land surface had gotten abnormally dry. The corn and soybean production in the Midwest U.S. were hit the hardest by the severe drought. [Full story]