Road-melting Heat Kills at least 800 across India

Death toll mounts in India’s near 50-degree heat

An intense heatwave has killed at least 806 people across India melting roads in the capital New Delhi as temperatures approach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees).

Official death toll is as follows (the real toll may be much higher).
In the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh, in the south, 551 people have died over the past week with temperatures exceeding 47ºC on Monday.

In the bordering state of Telangana, at least 231 people have died, with temperatures reported in excess of 48ºC over the weekend.

The heatwave has also killed 11 people in the western state of Orissa, and 13 others in the eastern state of West Bengal.

Meantime, India’s Meteorological Department has issued a “Red Box” warning for several states on Tuesday and Wednesday, forecasting maximum temperatures above 45ºC.

Maximum temperature in the capital reached a high of 45.5ºC on Monday, some five degrees above the seasonal average.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous U.S.)
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD
Issued 8 am EDT Tuesday, May 26, 2015

High Temperature for Monday, May 25, 2015

• 39ºC  (102 degrees) at Death Valley, CA

Low Temperature for Tuesday, May 26, 2015

• -1ºC (31 degrees) at Grants-Milan, NM

Texas Declares States of Disaster in 24 Additional Counties

Gov. Abbott Adds 24 Counties To Disaster Declaration

The governor of Texas has declared States of Disaster in 24 additional counties, bringing the total to 37, as severe weather and deadly flash flooding leave trails of destruction across the state.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued an Emergency Disaster Proclamation on May 11, 2015, certifying that the severe weather, tornado and flooding event that began on May 4, 2015, has caused a disaster in Bosque, Clay, Denton, Eastland, Gaines, Montague and Van Zandt counties in the State of Texas. On May 15, 2015, I amended my proclamation of May 11, 2015, to include Cooke, Grimes, Hood, Navarro, Smith and Wise counties. Severe weather, tornadoes and flooding continue in these and other counties in Texas.

THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby declare a state of disaster in Archer, Bastrop, Bosque, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Dewitt, Eastland, Fannin, Gaines, Grayson, Grimes, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Kendall, Montague, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Parker, San Jacinto, Smith, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wilson and Wise counties.

At least 5 people have been killed in Texas and Oklahoma, and more than a dozen are missing.

“This is the biggest flood this area of Texas has ever seen,” said Abbott.

“It is absolutely massive,” he said, describing the relentless power of the wave of water as “tsunami-like.”

The Lone Star State has also been pounded by tornadoes, heavy rain and thunderstorms that have forced mass evacuations.

Meantime, a 9-pm to 7-am curfew in Wimberley and San Marcos was extended for a second night on Monday, said Hays County officials.

Tornado kills 13 in Mexico-Texas border city

A tornado has swept through Ciudad Acuna, a city of 125,000 across from Del Rio, Texas, destroying homes and tossing cars. At least 13 people were killed, and five others reported as missing, officials said.

The twister, which has destroyed or damaged about 800 homes, was the first ever to hit Ciudad Acuna since the city was founded more than 100 years ago, local media quoted the Mayor as saying.