An unprecedented early-season heat wave sent temperatures soaring past 100 degrees Fahrenheit across southern Texas this week, shattering April records in San Antonio, Laredo, and Corpus Christi by significant margins.
ERCOT, the state's power grid operator, issued a conservation appeal as electricity demand surged to levels typically not seen until late June. Air conditioning systems across the region are running at near-maximum capacity.
Meteorologists warn that the heat dome responsible for the extreme temperatures will persist through the weekend before a cold front arrives Monday, offering relief but also raising severe thunderstorm risks.
