"More than 2,000 temperature records have been matched or broken in the past week as a brutal heat wave baked much of the United States, and June saw more than 3,200 records topped, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Monday."

"From June 25 to July 1, some 2,171 record temperatures were either broken or matched, the NOAA said. For the 30 days of June, that number rose to 3,215.

Accuweather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said the number of records broken was very unusual. He said that while some aspects of the heat wave are unknown, much of it is because of a lack of snow cover during the late winter on America's plains."

Joseph O'Leary reports for Reuters July 5, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Heat Wave, Record Drought Parch United States" (ENS)
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2012/2012-07-05-01.html [3]

"Two States Receiving Federal Storm Relief Aid" (Reuters) [3]

"Midwest Can't Get Relief From Oppressive Heat" (AP) [4]