Summer's Sweltering Sizzle: A Record-Breaking Heatwave

As the autumnal equinox marked the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, the United States breathed a collective sigh of relief as the sweltering heat of summer finally began to subside. But the summer of 2024 will be remembered for its record-breaking heat, with at least five states experiencing their warmest summers on record. Phoenix, Arizona, was particularly hard hit, with a record streak of 113 consecutive days of temperatures at or above 100 degrees. The city also set a record with 61 days of temperatures at or above 110 degrees. And it's not just Phoenix that felt the heat; cities and towns across the West and Southwest set new heat records this year.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, and New Hampshire all experienced their warmest summers on record in 2024. The National Weather Service reported that nearly one-third of all weather stations nationwide recorded at least one record-high temperature over the summer. Some areas were even more severely affected. A single weather station in Wyoming, for instance, saw new record highs an astonishing 30 times. The heat was so intense that it's not surprising that many people are still feeling the effects of the sweltering summer.

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