Heat Wave

Baltimore looks to have escaped this stretch of March heat without any records to speak of, unlike much of the country. In some places, though, the records were more noteworthy than others. Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters details some of them in this post on his WunderBlog . They include examples of: Low temperatures breaking previous records for highs. Marquette, Mich., hit a low of 52 degrees March 21; the previous high temperature record for that day had been 49 degrees.

Most of the heat records we've narrowly missed this week date to a similar warm spell in 1990. What else did that month hold? If you've been welcoming the warmth and didn't miss winter, you don't want to know the answer. The week of March 12, 1990, saw a four-day streak of temperatures above or near 80 degrees. That was after a mild January and February averaging about 42 degrees. Sound familiar? This winter averaged just under 41 degrees, which ranks among the mildest on record for Baltimore.

Last week's heat, which reached a record 101 degrees on Friday, contributed to the deaths of 11 Maryland residents, state health authorities said Wednesday, raising the season's total to 21. The unusually high number was due in part to the long stretch of hot weather. Temperatures had topped 90 degrees for nine days before the week began, reaching 106 degrees July 22 at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and 101 degrees July 29. "The cumulative effect of day after day of this sort of heat takes a toll, particularly on people who have weakened circulatory systems," said Fran Phillips, deputy secretary for public health at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The Broadway Court Senior Life building in East Baltimore advertises being "in the heart of Baltimore. " Residents who had been without air conditioning from Friday through Monday afternoon said that it was like living "in the heat of Baltimore. " According to Armerlous Givens, the air conditioning was fixed "while the media was here" and came back on "around 2 or 3 [p.m.]. Givens, 66, said that it had been fixed last week as well and stopped working within a few hours. "We have all had a terrible time," Givens said Monday night.

One of the hottest days on record in Central Maryland spurred electric power managers Friday to ask Marylanders to cut their demand for electricity in order to keep the juice flowing. But not everyone was happy about it. Many customers whose air conditioners were cycled off and on under BGE's Peak Rewards program called the utility Friday to complain about the rising temperatures in their homes or to opt out of the program. Some found they were unable to speak with anyone. "I guess I'm really fortunate that I don't have any sick people or old people living here," said Michelle Carras, 45, of Ellicott City, whose home was 88 degrees at about 7:45 p.m. "My plan is to get this thermostat out as soon as possible.

Maryland really began to turn in the roaster Thursday, joining much of the rest of the country, now deep in the summer's worst heat wave. The mercury reached 103 degrees in downtown Baltimore, with a heat index reading of 117 degrees. It was 100 at BWI-Marshall Airport, four degrees short of a record. And there is little relief in sight. The region could see scattered thunderstorms Friday or Saturday afternoon, but forecasters don't expect a palpable break from the suffocating weather until a weak cold front arrives late Sunday.

City officials will establish a cooling station at the Laurel Armory Anderson-Murphy Community Center and open city pools early beginning Tuesday to help residents combat the heat wave expected to hit the area this week. The Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery St., will be open as a cooling station Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, the city's two pools will open an hour early. Both the Municipal Pool, at Ninth and Main streets, and the Greenview Drive Pool, 14403 Greenview Drive, will open at 11 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. For more information, call the city at 301-725-5300.

Extreme weather is on the rise ("Maryland braces for second heat wave," June 7). Maryland's heat wave is just one example, and scientists predict these extreme events will become increasingly common due to global warming. Heat waves are actually more lethal than other extreme events and pose greater danger to at-risk groups. In our recent report, "Global Warming and Extreme Weather," we found the number of heat waves has gone up since 1960, while 2010 is tied for the warmest year on record.

Ciy pools in Laurel will remain open until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday to provide relief during the current heat wave. The city operates two pools: Municipal Pool at Ninth and Main streets and the Greenview Drive Pool, located in Patuxent Greens at 11415 Greenview Drive. For more information on Laurel's city pools, call Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation at 301-725-7800.

Due to potentially record-breaking heat, Belmont Park has canceled live racing for today. The heat wave is expected to break on Friday in time for the running of Saturday's Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown. On Wednesday, Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Animal Kingdom, who is based in Fair Hill under trainer Graham Motion, was made the morning-line favorite at 2-1 . Nehro, runner-up in the Derby, was made a surprising 4-1 second choice. Preakness winner Shackleford was the 9-2 third choice.