Hell on Earth: Today Could Be The Hottest Day Ever

The Detroit News reports today could be the hottest day ever in southeast Michigan.

Or least since accurate record-keeping began in 1880.

Meteorologist Steve Considine told the News the region could see a high temperature Tuesday between 98 and 105 degrees, putting the 105-degree record from July 24, 1924, in serious jeopardy. The record for July 17 is 101 degrees, set in 1887.

"That puts it in perspective this is not something that occurs very often," Considine said from the service's White Lake Township office.

A U.S. Drought Monitor report released last week showed much of the lower part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula in moderate drought, the Free Press reports.

The next best chance for rain comes  Wednesday, with about a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Cooler temperatures are expected to arrive tonight.

Temperatures aren't expected to rise above 90 degrees until Sunday. But no precipitation is expected through the weekend, either.

Despite the heat, the area is above normal for rainfall for the month. A total of 2.17 inches of rain had fallen through Sunday night, which is 1.54 inches above normal. But most of that rain -- 1.76 inches -- fell July 5.

The rain came after the 10th driest June and the warmest January through June on record in Michigan.