It's important to keep cool and drink lots of water when playing in hot summer weather. (Essdras M Suarez / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Summer Starts With a Sizzle

Temperatures break records across the country

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Summer officially began in the United States on June 20, and the heat is already hitting new highs. For the past week, record-breaking temperatures have been heating up thermometers all over the world.

Temperatures in New York City reached almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the first day of summer. Near the city’s LaGuardia Airport, the heat was measured to be 98 degrees, beating the record set in 1953 by two degrees.

Thermometers measured new highs in the Northeast from Maine to Washington, D.C., that day. Many of the top temperatures beat previous records by just one or two degrees. But these were far higher than normal temperatures for so early in the summer season. In some cases, they were 15 degrees above average.

“Most of the country will have above-normal temperatures for the rest of June, July, and August,” says Steven Cooper, deputy director of the National Weather Service.

The U.S. is not the only place feeling the heat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that last month was the warmest May on record across the globe. The average worldwide temperature on land was 2.18 degrees higher than normal.

Weather that warm can be dangerous. “Heat is an overlooked hazard, because many people don’t recognize the hazard until they are already in trouble,” Cooper warns.

The National Weather Service advises being smart if you plan on spending time outside this summer. To avoid dehydration, or not having enough water in your body, drink lots of water. Stay in the shade when you can so that you don’t get overheated. And don’t forget to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and a hat when playing outside.

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