Texas swelters as record-breaking heatwave sweeps across state

Record-high heat so early in the season means state has been hotter than Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth

Texas is in the grip of an extraordinary heatwave this week, with record-breaking temperatures sweeping across the central and southern regions of the state.

While 100F days are common in Texas summers, such early-season heat is unusual. The record-high heat means that Texas has been recently hotter than Death Valley, California, which is often cited as the hottest place on Earth.