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Community Corner

Berkeley Heat Wave Abides

By Ted Friedman/Berkeley Reporter
July 4, 2013

WHEW!

The first death from a persistent state-wide heat wave was reported yesterday, as Bay Area cities open cooling centers.

Death Valley hit 127 degrees.

Eighty degree Berkeley days, no more than five degrees higher than average daily highs for the month, may seem relatively tolerable. New comers may wonder why long-time residents relish their cool summers. Some like it hot.

It's not the severity of the heat that is melting our feathers, but its duration. With an 80 degree 4th ahead, Berkeley moves into its ninth heat-wave day, beating a week long heat-wave seven years ago.

The fog bank, which rolled in Tuesday, beat a hasty retreat, disappointing weather watchers who are used to Bay Area air-conditioning, courtesy of fog.

On Berkeley's South side Wednesday ice-cream cones melted to mush. "That happens in the heat," said an ice-cream server. Her store was sweltering.
 
Even the shade could not stop the melt.

Relief has been forecast for Friday morning.
                                                                -30-

Ted Friedman founded the successful site, berkeleyreporter.com, currently running a whimsical South Side yarn on an ice-cream sandwich cult on Teley. Berkeley Reporter: Berkeley's alternative media voice.

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