Tropical Storm Debby is bound for northern Florida. So much for that chance of heat relief for North Texas.
A day after the mercury first hit 100 degrees this year, it kept climbing Monday to 104, and temperatures are expected to be in triple digits much of the week.The Salvation Army opened 15 cooling stations to help people who are homeless, have no air conditioning or work outdoors, officials said. The cool rooms are stocked with water.Last summer, North Texas cooling stations averaged more than 300 visits a day.Along with the heat comes ozone. The area reached another first for the year when one reporting site in Tarrant County reached a Level Red air pollution status about 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.Level Red means that people with chronic lung disease, as well as the elderly and young children, should avoid prolonged exposure.The state should not experience power problems this week, officials said. Peak electric demand is expected to exceed 65,000 megawatts today, but the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expects adequate electric generation resources to be available to keep air conditioners running.Wildfire concernsTexas drought conditions have improved this year, but officials say Fourth of July revelers should still use caution with fireworks.The Texas Forest Service says 83 of the state's 254 counties had outdoor burn bans in place Monday. A year ago, more than 230 counties had them amid the devastating drought and extreme heat.The agency is encouraging people planning holiday celebrations to use fireworks safely.Spokesman Justice Jones said the wildfire potential exists in areas where long hot spells have dried out vegetation.All of Texas has emerged from the worst stage of drought for the first time in nearly 15 months. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday showed that none of Texas is in exceptional drought.North Texas has received 22.5 inches of rain this year, about 3 inches above average.Today's forecast calls for sunny skies with a high near 102 and a low around 75; Wednesday's is a degree cooler on both ends. Thursday's forecast calls for a high of 101 and a low of 75.Friday drops to a high of 99 and a low around 76. The weekend will have highs in the high 90s and lows in the mid-70s.No rain is in sight.Around the stateGalveston's high Sunday reached 98, breaking the record of 96 degrees set 137 years ago on the island. On Monday, the high of 100 beat the record of 96 set in 1875.This month, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Lubbock and Abilene are among the Texas cities that have hit the triple-digit temperature mark. As of Saturday, San Angelo had had six days with 100-degree temperatures.Staff writer Alex Branch contributed to this report, which includes material from The Associated Press.Marty Sabota, 817-390-7367