Heat Wave Scorches South and Eastern Seaboard

More than 20 cities have broken or tied their all-time highs.

ByABC News via logo
August 11, 2007, 8:47 AM

Aug. 11, 2007 — -- Residents from the southwest to the eastern seaboard are experiencing sizzling heat.

One man had an interesting way to keep cool.

"What am I doing to keep cool? I just think about Alaska," joked Derrick Baker.

During the weekend, the worst of the heat is expected to move into parts of the southwest. The heat wave has shattered records in more than 20 cities -- tying or breaking all-time highs.

Atlanta tied its all-time record high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit, which hadn't been recorded since 1873. And in Columbia, S.C., the residents experienced the sixth day of 100-degree weather.

In Mississippi, where temperatures have been in the triple digits for days, a state judge tried to move all outdoor student activities inside.

Mississippi's highest court overturned the order Friday, but in Desoto County residents are keeping their children indoors.

"I would rather Desoto County never win a band competition, never win a ball game of any sort, than us to ever harm one child, from getting too hot," said Desoto County school superintendent Mike Kuykendall.

The heat index, which shows how temperatures really feel, is scorching. In Jackson, Miss. it feels like 111 degrees, while Charleston, S.C., feels like 117 degrees.

The power companies servicing Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and much of the South are working overtime to keep air conditioners whirling.

The Georgia Power Company set four new all-time records for electricity demand this week, and half of it came from air conditioners.

"The heat's staying longer in the evenings so ... the air conditioners are running for longer periods of time," said John Sell of Georgia Power.

The heat wave will begin shifting westward over the next few days, bringing 100 to 105 degree heat to the central and southern Plains into next week.