A combination of record heat and explosive thunderstorms knocked out power throughout the Washington, DC area and the extreme temperatures shows little sign of subsiding through the weekend.
More than1.5 million people in the DC region, 2 million in the Mid-Atlantic overall, lost power as a result. It’s expected to take days to restore the system, which a spokesman for power company Pepco told NBC is at half capacity. Ohio also lost power to 1 million homes and businesses due to powerful storms.
At least four deaths have been reported in Virginia in connection with the weather — two from falling trees, and two cases where details have yet to be released. Washington, DC, hit 104 degrees on Friday, the hottest June day ever recorded. A high humidity index pushes up the perceived temperature a few degrees higher and the National Weather Service is warning people throughout the region to be cautious in the wake of “dangerously hot” conditions.
Benjy Sarlin
Benjy Sarlin is a reporter for Talking Points Memo and co-writes the campaign blog, TPM2012. He previously reported for The Daily Beast/Newsweek as their Washington Correspondent and covered local politics for the New York Sun.
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