The United States Heat Wave of July 2012 has been near-unprecedented for several major cities according to NBC News.
*In Chicago, the temperature reached 100 degrees for three consecutive days from Wednesday through Friday, July 4-6, which ties t he records of July 3-5, 1911, and August 4-6, 1947.
*St Louis' streak of 10 consecutive days of 100 or higher (June 28 through July 7) has only been topped by the Dust Bowl year of 1825 when the streak was 13 days.
*In Minneapolis, the mercury hit triple-digits on Wednesday and Friday, July 4 and 6, at the Twin Cities International Airport; the last year there were at least two 100-degree high temperatures in the Twin Cities was 1988, when there were four.
*Washington DC hit 100 on Sunday, July 8, for the fourth consecutive day, tying a record set July 19-22, 1930.
Forecasters warned that a new round of record highs could soon bake the Western states. This western heat wave will start tomorrow, Monday, July 9, where the Rockies are bracing to receive this kind of heat.
Factors behind the Heat Wave
The positioning of the jet stream (an area of maximum winds high above the ground) is the major player in heat waves. The jet stream "ribbon" swirls up and down as it circles the globe. If you are on the north side of the "ribbon" you experience cooler air. Conversely, when you are on the southern side of the "ribbon" you experience hotter air. Meteorologists call this a "ridge" in the jet stream. The areas that lie under that ridge can experience heat waves.
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