(Unofficial) Record-breaking temperature across the Globe, July 1, 2012

(Unofficial) Record-breaking temperature across the Globe 

by Robert Hart and Ryan Maue, July 1, 2012

*X* = Monthly record    **X** = All-time record

ID	City	Country	Type and unofficial status	Current Temp. (°F)	Unofficial Daily/Monthly Record (°F)	Margin of Daily Record (°F)	Year of Daily Record	Database Length (years)
KMQY	Smyrna, TN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	*108.9*	100.2/106.3	8.7	1954	55
SUAA	Melilla	Uruguay	HIGH: BROKEN	73.4	65.1/83.1	8.3	2005	35
KOWB	Owensboro / Daviess, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	*104.9*	96.8/104.0	8.1	1996	36
KGSP	Greer, SC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	*105.1*	97.0/102.9	8.0	1970	50
KAHN	Athens, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	*106.0*	98.1/104.0	7.9	2007	57
KFTY	Atlanta (Fulton County), GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.0	95.0/106.0	7.0	2009	39
KATL	Atlanta, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**105.1**	98.1/105.1	7.0	1954	67
KLOZ	London, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	99.0	92.8/100.9	6.2	1978	51
KEVV	Evansville, IN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**105.1**	99.0/104.0	6.0	1978	64
KRMG	Rome, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**106.0**	100.0/105.8	6.0	1954	54
KLOU	Louisville, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	100.9	95.0/105.8	5.9	2005	43
KLEX	Lexington, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.0	96.1/102.9	5.9	1954	64
KHSV	Huntsville, AL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	97.0/104.0	5.9	1959	54
KBLM	Belmar-Farmingdale, NJ	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	96.8	91.0/102.2	5.8	1971	36
KMTN	Baltimore / Martin, MD	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	95.0	89.6/100.4	5.4	2001	42
SAAR	Rosario Aerodrome	Argentina	HIGH: BROKEN	80.6	75.2/88.9	5.3	2005	43
KMGE	Marietta / Dobbins Air Force Base, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	*103.5*	98.2/102.4	5.3	1954	65
KTYS	Knoxville, TN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**105.1**	100.0/102.9	5.0	1954	64
KMCN	Macon, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	106.0	100.9/108.0	5.0	1998	70
KCHA	Chattanooga, TN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**105.1**	100.0/105.1	5.0	1954	64
KAVL	Asheville, NC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**98.1**	93.0/98.1	5.0	1970	64
KPAH	Paducah, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	104.0	99.0/105.1	5.0	1978	56
KGMU	Greenville, SC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	104.0	99.0/106.0	5.0	1990	51
KSGH	Springfield Municipal, OH	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	93.9	89.1/100.9	4.8	1975	39
KLSF	Fort Benning, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	103.8	99.0/107.1	4.8	1978	72
KWRB	Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	**107.1**	102.9/107.1	4.1	1954	70
KMSL	Muscle Shoals, AL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	104.0	100.0/106.0	4.0	1954	47
KHOP	Fort Campbell U. S. Army Airfield, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	103.3	99.3/105.3	4.0	1954	64
KBNA	Nashville, TN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	104.0	100.0/107.1	4.0	1954	64
KSDF	Louisville, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.0	98.1/111.0	3.9	1954	64
KCLT	Charlotte, NC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	99.0/103.8	3.9	1954	68
KGSB	Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, NC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	100.8	97.0/114.8	3.8	1990	59
KTEB	Teterboro, NJ	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	95.0	91.9/104.0	3.0	2001	40
KPNE	Philadelphia, PA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	96.1	93.0/105.1	3.0	2001	42
KBWG	Bowling Green, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	104.0	100.9/109.0	3.0	1952	47
KCSG	Columbus, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.0	99.0/104.0	3.0	2007	64
KABY	Albany, GA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	100.0/105.1	2.9	1954	46
KFTK	Fort Knox, KY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	101.1	98.2/104.4	2.8	1954	67
KSHR	Sheridan, WY	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	100.9	98.1/107.1	2.8	2002	64
KLNS	Lancaster, PA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	91.9	89.1/102.0	2.8	2002	38
KAGC	Pittsburgh, PA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	91.9	89.1/100.9	2.8	1999	47
KWAL	Wallops Island, VA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	96.1	93.9/100.4	2.1	1977	46
KPIT	Pittsburgh, PA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	93.9	91.9/102.9	2.0	1966	67
KILM	Wilmington, NC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	99.0	97.0/106.0	2.0	1990	68
KBHM	Birmingham, AL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	100.9/106.0	2.0	1954	67
KMVN	Mount Vernon, IL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	100.4	98.6/102.2	1.8	2005	36
SUSO	Salto	Uruguay	HIGH: BROKEN	84.2	82.8/89.6	1.4	2005	41
SLTJ	Tarija	Bolivia	HIGH: BROKEN	89.6	88.2/94.6	1.3	1987	39
KSSC	Shaw Air Force Base, SC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.2	100.9/105.1	1.3	1970	71
KSHD	Staunton / Shenandoah, VA	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	94.3	93.2/102.9	1.0	2002	39
KSGF	Springfield, MO	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	98.1	97.0/111.0	1.0	2011	64
KMDH	Carbondale IL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.0	100.9/105.1	1.0	1978	39
KCAK	Akron, OH	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	93.0	91.9/100.9	1.0	2002	64
KBLF	Bluefield, WV	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	89.1	88.0/96.1	1.0	2005	39
KYNG	Youngstown, OH	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	91.0	90.0/100.0	1.0	2002	64
KTCL	Tuscaloosa, AL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	102.0/111.2	.9	1954	46
KMLS	Miles City, MT	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	102.0/113.0	.9	1990	64
KCAE	Columbia, SC	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	102.0/106.0	.9	1998	68
KBMG	Bloomington, IN	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	99.0	98.1/102.0	.9	1991	35
KANB	Anniston, AL	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	102.9	102.0/105.1	.9	1954	47
KNHK	Patuxent River, MD	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	97.0	96.4/104.0	.5	1953	67
KTUP	Tupelo, MS	United States	HIGH: BROKEN	100.9	100.4/104.0	.5	2006	39
SBPA	Porto Alegre Aero-Porto	Brazil	HIGH: BROKEN	84.2	83.8/92.3	.4	2004	39
CYQI	Yarmouth, N. S.	Canada	HIGH: BROKEN	77.0	76.6/84.2	.4	1999	41
CWFD	Cape Dyer, N. W. T.	Canada	HIGH: BROKEN	57.2	57.0/75.2	.2	1991	37
KMGM	Montgomery, AL	United States	HIGH: TIE	100.0	100.0/104.0	0	2007	64
KMFV	Melfa / Accomack Airport, VA	United States	HIGH: TIE	93.2	93.2/104.0	0	2005	36
KLUK	Cincinnati, OH	United States	HIGH: TIE	96.1	96.1/105.1	0	1991	39
KILN	Wilmington, OH	United States	HIGH: TIE	93.9	93.9/100.9	0	1970	41
KGUC	Gunnison, CO	United States	HIGH: TIE	87.8	87.8/91.9	0	2007	39
KFYV	Fayetteville, AR	United States	HIGH: TIE	96.1	96.1/109.0	0	2011	48
KEEN	Keene / Dillant, NH	United States	HIGH: TIE	87.8	87.8/99.0	0	2002	38
KCKB	Clarksburg, WV	United States	HIGH: TIE	90.0	90.0/100.9	0	2005	39
KAZO	Kalamazoo, MI	United States	HIGH: TIE	91.9	91.9/102.0	0	2006	37
KAOO	Altoona, PA	United States	HIGH: TIE	90.0	90.0/102.0	0	1953	46
CWUW	Dewar Lakes, N. W. T.	Canada	HIGH: TIE	59.0	59.0/73.8	0	1982	35
KRDG	Reading, PA	United States	HIGH: TIE	93.9	94.3/116.6	-.3	1945	46
KCBM	Columbus Air Force Base, MS	United States	HIGH: TIE	98.2	98.6/105.1	-.3	1998	58
KLWB	Lewisburg / Greenbrier, WV	United States	HIGH: TIE	89.6	90.0/98.1	-.4	1991	39
KDYR	Dyersburg, TN	United States	HIGH: TIE	100.4	100.9/104.0	-.5	1954	49
KDOV	Dover Air Force Base, DE	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.7	96.3/102.9	-.5	1964	68
KMXF	Maxwell Air Force Base / Montgomery, AL	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	101.5	102.2/105.4	-.7	1998	77
KNCA	Jacksonville MCAS, NC	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	97.0/109.9	-.9	1990	57
KLIT	Little Rock, AR	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	100.0	100.9/111.0	-.9	1980	64
KLGA	New York, NY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	97.0/104.0	-.9	1963	64
KEKN	Elkins, WV	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	89.1	90.0/99.0	-.9	2005	64
KDSM	Des Moines, IA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	97.0/105.1	-.9	1949	67
TJNR	Roosevelt Roads, PR	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	90.0	91.0/100.4	-1.0	1995	57
KYIP	Detroit, MI	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	96.1/102.9	-1.0	2002	52
KTOI	Troy, AL	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	97.0	98.1/102.2	-1.0	2011	41
KPOU	Poughkeepsie, NY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	91.9	93.0/106.0	-1.0	2001	46
KJBR	Jonesboro, AR	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	100.9	102.0/107.1	-1.0	1980	39
KEWR	Newark, NJ	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	97.0	98.1/108.0	-1.0	1964	64
KCHO	Charlottesville, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	96.1/106.0	-1.0	1991	44
KCOD	Cody, WY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.8	98.1/100.4	-1.3	1990	35
SKCC	Cucuta / Camilo Daza	Colombia	HIGH: CLOSE	93.2	94.6/99.5	-1.3	1992	46
KLHW	Ft. Stewart, GA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	98.8	100.4/104.0	-1.6	1998	45
SVSA	San Antonio Del Tachira	Venezuela	HIGH: CLOSE	93.2	95.0/102.2	-1.8	2011	39
SUCA	Colonia	Uruguay	HIGH: CLOSE	66.2	68.0/86.0	-1.8	1991	41
SBFL	Florianopolis Aeroporto	Brazil	HIGH: CLOSE	78.8	80.6/88.2	-1.8	2004	39
SARL	Paso De Los Libres Aerodrome	Argentina	HIGH: CLOSE	82.4	84.2/89.6	-1.8	2005	39
SANT	Tucuman Aerodrome	Argentina	HIGH: CLOSE	78.8	80.6/96.8	-1.8	1977	50
MHTE	Tela	Honduras	HIGH: CLOSE	91.4	93.2/102.2	-1.8	1988	51
KLCI	Laconia Municipal, NH	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	86.0	87.8/98.6	-1.8	2002	38
KLBE	Latrobe / Westmorland, PA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	91.4	93.2/102.9	-1.8	1999	38
KITH	Ithaca / Tompkins County, NY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	86.0	87.8/99.9	-1.8	2002	38
KIKV	Ankeny, IA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.2	95.0/108.0	-1.8	2006	35
KGTR	Golden Tri, MS	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.8	98.6/102.9	-1.8	2006	35
KBKX	Brookings, SD	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	91.4	93.2/102.2	-1.8	2011	38
CYZE	Gore Bay, Ont.	Canada	HIGH: CLOSE	78.8	80.6/97.2	-1.8	1978	35
SPME	Tumbes	Peru	HIGH: CLOSE	89.6	91.4/102.4	-1.8	1997	38
KHTS	Huntington, WV	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	97.9/102.0	-1.8	1978	51
CYYG	Charlottetown, P. E. I.	Canada	HIGH: CLOSE	80.6	82.4/88.9	-1.8	1997	38
KMEM	Memphis, TN	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	99.0	100.9/109.9	-1.9	1954	64
KFMN	Farmington, NM	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	99.0	100.9/105.1	-1.9	1998	63
KROA	Roanoke, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	97.0/102.9	-2.0	1968	64
KRKS	Rock Springs, WY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	91.9	93.9/97.0	-2.0	2001	64
KORF	Norfolk, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	97.0/105.1	-2.0	1991	64
KMTJ	Montrose, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	97.0	99.0/117.0	-2.0	1998	37
KMKL	Jackson, TN	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	100.9	102.9/105.1	-2.0	1954	46
KLYH	Lynchburg, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	97.0/102.9	-2.0	1970	64
KJST	Johnstown, PA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	84.0	86.0/98.1	-2.0	1991	43
KHYA	Hyannis, MA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	82.0	84.0/98.6	-2.0	2001	39
KGSO	Greensboro, NC	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.0	97.0/100.9	-2.0	1970	67
KGJT	Grand Junction, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	100.0	102.0/106.0	-2.0	2002	64
KEVW	Evanston, WY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	88.0	90.0/93.9	-2.0	2001	39
KASE	Aspen, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	88.0	90.0/93.9	-2.0	2002	39
KTTN	Trenton, NJ	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.9	96.1/105.1	-2.1	1945	40
KIAD	Washington-Dulles Intl Arpt, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.9	96.1/105.1	-2.1	1991	50
KDAY	Dayton, OH	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.9	96.1/102.0	-2.1	1970	64
KCVG	Covington / Cincinnati, KY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.9	96.1/102.9	-2.1	1991	64
KBGM	Binghamton, NY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	84.9	87.1/97.5	-2.1	1963	64
SLOR	Oruro	Bolivia	HIGH: CLOSE	62.6	64.8/73.4	-2.2	1983	41
KFAF	Fort Eustis / Felker, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	94.1	96.3/105.8	-2.2	1969	51
SARE	Resistencia Aero.	Argentina	HIGH: CLOSE	86.0	88.3/98.6	-2.3	1988	48
KRIC	Richmond, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	99.0	101.3/105.8	-2.3	1945	69
KDCA	Reagan National Airport, DC	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	97.0	99.3/104.0	-2.3	1945	76
KVAD	Moody Air Force Base, GA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	98.4/103.3	-2.3	1968	66
KOZR	Cairns Army Air Field / Ozark, AL	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	98.1	100.4/105.8	-2.3	1998	57
KCEW	Crestview, FL	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	98.1	100.4/109.4	-2.3	1998	47
KNEW	New Orleans Lakefront Airport, LA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.0	95.4/105.1	-2.4	1954	42
SLPS	Puerto Suarez	Bolivia	HIGH: CLOSE	89.6	92.1/98.6	-2.5	1989	38
SKLT	Leticia / Vasquez Cobo	Colombia	HIGH: CLOSE	87.8	90.3/102.2	-2.5	1982	44
MYNN	Nassau Airport	Bahamas, The	HIGH: CLOSE	91.4	93.9/96.8	-2.5	1998	39
KFFO	Dayton / Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	95.7	98.2/106.3	-2.5	1941	76
MRLM	Puerto Limon	Costa Rica	HIGH: CLOSE	86.0	88.7/102.4	-2.7	2008	42
KMGW	Morgantown, WV	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	89.1	91.9/100.0	-2.8	1991	46
KMCI	Kansas City, MO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	98.1	100.9/107.1	-2.8	1980	40
KLAR	Laramie, WY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	89.1	91.9/93.9	-2.8	2002	47
KHOT	Hot Springs, AR	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	98.1	100.9/109.0	-2.8	1988	39
KALS	Alamosa, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	89.1	91.9/93.0	-2.8	2002	64
KBAK	Columbus Bakalar, IN	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.2	96.1/107.1	-2.8	1954	50
KWRI	Mcguire Air Force Base, NJ	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	94.1	97.0/103.6	-2.9	1968	69
KSNY	Sidney, NE	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	100.0	102.9/107.1	-2.9	1990	47
KPHL	Philadelphia, PA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	99.0/105.1	-2.9	1964	71
KNGU	Norfolk, VA	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	99.0/104.0	-2.9	1991	67
KLND	Lander, WY	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	96.1	99.0/102.0	-2.9	1990	64
KDET	Detroit, MI	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	91.0	93.9/102.9	-2.9	2002	64
KCOS	Colorado Springs, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	93.0	95.9/100.0	-2.9	1980	70
KAFF	Air Force Academy, CO	United States	HIGH: CLOSE	92.1	95.0/97.0	-2.9	2002	39
VVTS	Ho Chi Minh	Vietnam	LOW: CLOSE	73.4	70.5/62.6	2.9	1994	61
SBRF	Recife Aeroporto	Brazil	LOW: CLOSE	71.6	69.3/66.2	2.3	1946	43
LTAR	Sivas	Turkey	LOW: BROKEN	44.6	45.3/33.8	-.6	1994	45
ID	City	Country	Type and unofficial status	Current Temp. (°F)	Unofficial Daily/Monthly Record (°F)	Margin of Daily Record (°F)	Year of Daily Record	Database Length (years)

http://coolwx.com/record/

Greenpeace shadows Shell drilling vessels bound for Arctic Alaska

Alaska Dispatch, July 1, 2012

As Shell's drilling vessels make their way to Arctic waters to begin exploring for oil off the shores of Alaska, Greenpeace will be following close behind to monitor the oil company's activities, The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports.

The trip is part of Greenpeace’s “Save the Arctic” campaign. The environmental group stopped in Kodiak to discuss its journey with the U.S. Coast Guard, including its plans to deploy two small submarines.

"With everything, especially in the Arctic, what we're looking to achieve is safety for life at sea for everybody on the water. Our dialogue with Greenpeace isn't any different than it is with Shell," Coast Guard Capt. Gregory Sanial told The Kodiak Daily Mirror.

Greenpeace plans to shadow Shell's vessels as they travel north; probably a better strategy than boarding a drilling rig in protest. Greenpeace's submarines will be dispatched to explore the Bering Sea’s marine canyons, the groups says. One will carry a single person, the other two people.

Greenpeace's Arctic campaigner Jackie Dragon said the group's intent for the subs “is to document that pristine environment in places that no submarine-manned expeditions have been before and to bring back to the world images," according to The Kodiak Daily Mirror.

But it is this part of the mission that had Capt. Sanial worried: "I did explain to them that the Coast Guard has no capability to rescue that submarine," he told the The Kodiak Daily Mirror. "If it gets in trouble at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, there is very little the Coast Guard can do."

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/greenpeace-shadows-shell-drilling-vessels-bound-arctic-alaska

Miles Grant: Heating of Pot No Reason for Alarm, Reports Frog Media

Heating of Pot No Reason for Alarm, Reports Frog Media

by Miles Grant, The Green Miles, July 1, 2012

It's not true that if you slowly turn up the heat, a frog won't notice that his surroundings are getting hotter - the frog will jump out of the pot if he can. That's an allegory - but whether humans will recognize and respond to their warming climate is a very real and open question.

Mainstream media coverage of Friday night's extreme storms in the Mid-Atlantic region shows no sign of hoppiness:

• The Washington Post has no mention of climate impacts in its main story on the storm. Even its sidebar story detailing the record-shattering temperatures that fueled the derecho waits until its final sentence to say the rare storm "raises the question about the possible role of man-made climate warming" - but says any judgment must be left to after the frog has already boiled future case studies. Next to the storm coverage is an in-depth look at tar sands, one of the most carbon pollution-intensive fuels on the planet, but true to modern American journalism's View From Nowhere, The Post makes no connection between the two stories, not even on the editorial page.
• The New York Times, NPR and CNN make no mention of climate change in their stories on the storms. Last night, CBS Radio News blamed the storms on "Mother Nature," skipping past ignorance to outright denial.
• Meanwhile out West, the Associated Press reports nationwide droughts are canceling fireworks displays for many states. Climate scientists have been warning for years that global warming will result in deeper droughts and more intense wildfires, yet the AP makes no mention of climate impacts.

Reading these stories, I can't help but think of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeedby Jared Diamond. Past dominant societies have proved quite capable of blissfully ignoring all evidence of impending doom. So far, America's media is proving no different. Will 2012's record temperatures and extreme weather change that? Or be just another milepost on the road to disaster?

http://thegreenmiles.blogspot.com/2012/07/heating-of-pot-no-reason-for-alarm.html

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WaPo: June 29, 2012, derecho, wreaks havoc and destruction in Washington, DC

Derecho: Behind Washington, D.C.’s destructive thunderstorm outbreak, June 29, 2012

by Jason Samenow, Washington Post, June 30, 2012

Radar sequence of derecho thunderstorm complex. Storm traveled about 600 miles in 10 hours at an average speed of 60 mph. (Storm Prediction Center)Between 9:30 and 11 p.m. Friday night, one of the most destructive complexes of thunderstorms in memory swept through the entire D.C. area. Packing wind gusts of 60-80 mph, the storm produced extensive damage, downing hundreds of trees, and leaving more than 1 million area-residents without power.

Blue marks indicate reports of damaging wind. Black squares indicate winds of over 75 mph. (National Weather Service)Racing along at speeds over 60 mph, the bowing line of thunderstorms formed west of Chicago around 11 a.m. and by midnight approached the Atlantic ocean. It left a massive trail of destruction spanning from northern Illinois to the Delmarva Peninsula. The National Weather Service has logged well over 800 reports of damaging winds.

This kind of fast-moving, long-lived, large, and violent thunderstorm complex is known as a derecho.

Incredible radar loop of derecho from start to finish uploaded to YouTube by akrherz

Derechos are most common in the Midwest and Great Lakes between May and July. The National Weather Service indicates they occur about once every four years in the D.C. area.

Link: Facts about derechos

They often form along the northern boundary of a hot air mass, right along or just south of the jet stream -- where upper level winds zip along at high speeds.

Weather map showing fast upper level winds in blue - the location of jet stream, with a front along its southern edge. The derecho formed just south of the front as hot air surged northward.During summer, the jet stream atop a sprawling heat dome is sometimes called a “ring of fire” due to the tendency for explosive thunderstorms to form along this weather front separating hot, humid air to the south and cooler, drier air to the north.

On Friday, a historic, record-setting heat wave covered a sprawling region from the Midwest to the Southeast. All-time high temperatures records of 109 were established in Nashville and Columbia, South, Carolina, and tied in Raleigh and Charlotte which hit 105 and 104. Here in Washington, D.C., the mercury climbed to an astonishing 104 degrees (breaking the previous record set in 1874 and 2011 by two degrees), our hottest June day in 142 years of records.

High temperatures on Friday, June 29, 2012 ( Stu Ostro, Weather.com )As this stifling air bubbled northward, clashing with the weather front draped from near Chicago to just north of D.C., thunderstorms erupted. They grew in coverage and intensity as they raced southeast, powered by the roaring upper level winds and fueled by the record-setting heat and oppressive humidity in their path.

Three-dimensional schematic of a mature derecho showing inflow and outflow channels (National Weather Service)The coverage and availability of this heat energy was vast, sustaining the storms on their 600 mile northwest to southeast traverse. The storms continually ingested the hot, humid air and expelled it in violent downdrafts - crashing into the ground at high speeds and spreading out, sometimes accelerating further.

Winds measured by Doppler radar at 10:05 p.m. Pink shades indicate gusts of over 64 knots or 74 mph which, at the time, were raking Prince George’s county. (University Center for Atmospheric Research)Peak wind gusts in the D.C. region include the following:

71 mph near Dulles Airport
70 mph in Damascus, Md.
79 mph in Reston, Va.
65 mph in Rockville, Md.
70 mph at Reagan National Airport
76 mph in Seat Pleasant, Md. (Prince George’s co.)
77 mph in Swan Point, Md. (Charles co.)
70 mph in Ashburn, Va.
69 mph in Leesburg, Va.

In addition, an 80 mph gust was clocked in Fredericksburg. To the north and west, 91 mph and 72 mph gusts were measured in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio.

This derecho event is likely to go down as not only one of the worst on record in Washington, D.C., but also along its entire path stretching back to northern Indiana.

As the intensity of the heat wave, without reservation, was a key factor in the destructiveness of this derecho event - it raises the question about the possible role of manmade climate warming (from elevated greenhouse concentrations). It’s a complicated, controversial question, but one that scientists will surely grapple with in case studies of this rare, extraordinary event.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/derecho-behind-washington-dcs-destructive-thunderstorm-outbreak-june-29-2012/2012/06/30/gJQA22O7DW_blog.html