More than 1500 high temperature records across the United States were broken in the past week. Additionally, severe thunderstorms raged across parts of the midwest and Atlantic states, killing at least 12 persons, destroying property, and leaving 3 million without power at its peak.
Power outages were caused, in part, by trees falling into the power lines.
"This was no typical thunderstorm," a reporter with ABC News said (see video embedded below), as he toured the home of a man where a tree branch had ripped off and became a spear, piercing through the roof. The storms created "straight line winds" that inflicted damages similar to tornadoes.
It is anticipated that the three-digit, record-breaking heat will continue through the weekend and into mid-week.
In the west, Colorado City residents are under constant threat of losing their homes as the Waldo Canyon Wildfire continues to rage. 350 homes have been lost and at least 2 are dead. Blowing embers are landing on wooden roofs, igniting into new fires. 1300 firefighters are on the ground and containment is up to 45 percent.