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A spell of suffocating heat continued to grip much of the South Thursday, as several cities in Texas closed in on records for the most consecutive days of 100-degree heat.

In all, the National Weather Service issued heat advisories for parts of 15 states stretching from a sliver of Southern California to North Carolina.

Dallas marked its 34th straight day of temperatures above 100 degrees. That city has been getting a lot of attention for its hellish heat, but some smaller Texas cities have had it worse. Thursday is Waco's 35th straight day topping 100 degrees, and Tyler's 38th straight day. The records for both Dallas and Waco is 42 straight days, set in 1980.

In some places, the heat is having deadly consequences.

A Kansas City, Missouri endurance race known as the "Warrior Dash," had one of its participants die Saturday after collapsing on the course, CNN affiliate KMBC reported.

The family of Jeremiah Morris said the 28-year-old's core temperature had increased to 111 degrees. His blood thinned and damage was caused to his organs, they told KMBC.

"He ran so hard and so determinately that he took it to the ultimate end," said Morris' mother. "He ran straight on into glory. But that's not what he wanted. He had a whole full life. And now we're having his memorial service on his 29th birthday."

Organizers of the race canceled its last leg after Morris and 12 others were rushed to the hospital from the course due to the heat.

Not only are temperatures high in Texas, but the state climatologist said Thursday that Texas in the midst of the most severe one-year drought on record. Records started being kept in 1895. More at http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/04/heat/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

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