A new record for the 02 July date appeared for Phoenix Arizona yesterday: 118 F (47.8 C). The report at msnbc pictured people at the town jail - the "Tent City Jail" - trying to keep cool under the canvas.

Of course there will likely be a few warmer days there next month, as it's still early in the summer season.

My town (Wichita KS) has bent the record for "consecutive days above 100F in July," currently reporting it as 13 days straight in the nearby counties, with another few expected before the string breaks off for a couple of days; but we've had a (rather sparse) sprinkle or two to take the edge off the heat.

The "real record" for consecutive >100F day stretches in Wichita was in August a few years ago, when I believe we ran something like 42 days in a row. I recall helping a few old ladies (mostly 20-somethings, I suppose' but I was only about 17 then so they looked pretty "mature") across the street because the asphalt pavement got so soft it sucked their shoes off. (I picked a small one to carry, but a couple of other "leaners" needed help prying their shoes out.)

John