Wave of storms breaks hold of the heat wave

A roving band of storms Tuesday broke the grip of a heat wave, ending 100 -degree heat in Dallas and pouring rain on drought-ridden Arkansas. The drought appeared to be over in eastern Arkansas, where up to 6 inches of rain doused the communities of Wynne and Marianna in four hours, prompting flash-flood watches. But Texas Agriculture Commissioner Reagan Brown said agricultural losses from the heat wave could reach $2 billion in his state unless adequate rain came within the next two weeks. He said the rains so far this week were insufficient to break the drought, which would force 2,000 Texas farmers out of business.