2011 North American Heat Wave

A Map of Higher and Lower than Average Temperatures Across the US

The 2011 North Americana Heat Wave was a massive ridge of hot and humid air that covered the Midwest and the East Coast. The Heat Wave, which is classified as a long period of high atmosphere-related heat stress which would have adverse effects on the affected people, affected about 141 million people and covered one million square miles.
This devastating heatwave was caused by a ridge in the jet stream that trapped the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico within the ridge, commonly known as a heat dome. This heatwave was associated with high humidity levels, levels in which the Dew Point reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and unusually hot night time temperatures that remained above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Another byproduct of this Heat Wave was the sheer amount of records that were broken or tied, over 26, 000 records. Some of these records broken were that Dallas, Texas broke its previous record of most days over 100 in a year (69 days) and beat it with a  new total of 70 days. Wichita falls, Texas broke its record of 42 days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit setting a new record of 52 days. In the east coast, Newark, New Jersey set a new record for highest temperature reached with 108 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the precious record of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Another record broken was in Raleigh Durham, North Carolina, where the temperature reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for five days in a row breaking the previous record of four consecutive days. A more detailed chart on the records broken or tied can be found here http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/a-record-hot-summer-interactive-map.