Dangerous heat waves

France is forecast to experience temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius, or 102.2 Fahrenheit, today in a heat wave that has killed 40 people this month, recalling the summer of 2003 in which 15,000 died.

France's National Institute for Public Health Surveillance raised its toll from yesterday's 30 as Meteo France weather service maintained a heat alert in more than half the country. The health watchdog said the extra deaths occurred over the past week and that it will publish a detailed report tomorrow.

from Bloomberg News

California's record-setting heat wave defied the predictions of forecasters and hopes of millions of Californians on Tuesday, maintaining its strength for an 11th straight day.

Temperatures hit triple digits from Redding to San Bernardino, and the number of weather-related deaths rose to at least 41 in 11 counties. Cattle dropped dead in their fields, and thousands of utility customers endured a day without power, in some cases not the first.

from the San Francisco Chronicle