MORE HOTTER DAYS ON THE WAY
The Southwest United States should expect hotter, drier summers "by the late 21st century if human-caused global warming continues. The number of extremely hot summer days -- those in the top 5 percent of the 105- to 112-degree range -- could jump 560 percent by late in the century from today, according to the Purdue University study."

Regardless of whether the protracted heat-wave is "human-caused" or part of a natural cycle or some of both -- what seems clear is that there are going to be significant economic and social implications.