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© AP PhotoA man cools his horse with a large fan in Illinois last week. Across the central and southern United States six cities have recorded their highest ever temperatures
The Governor of Oklahoma has asked for divine intervention and called for a day of prayer as a relentless heatwave bakes the central part of the United States.

Mary Fallin urged people across her state to pray as thermometers in Oklahoma City topped 90F (32.2C) for 47 days in a row.

She said: "I think if we have a lot of people praying, it moves the heart of God. I encourage Oklahomans of all faiths to join me in offering their prayers for rain.

"The power of prayer is a wonderful thing, and I would ask every Oklahoman to look to a greater power and ask for rain." In Oklahoma the heatwave has seen only one day below 100F (37.8C) this month and there have been more than 100 wild fires.

Across the central and southern United States six cities have recorded their highest ever temperatures including Gage, Oklahoma, which hit 113F (45C) and Childress, Texas where it was 117F (47.2C.)

According to the US Drought Monitor 29 per cent of the country is now affected by drought, and 12 per cent is in exceptional drought, the highest figures on record.

Three quarters of Texas is in exceptional drought, along with 40 per cent of Oklahoma. New Mexico has also had its driest ever start to a year.

Oklahoma state senator Rick Brinkely backed the governor's call for mass prayer. He said: "I think if people are making a joke out of this request by the governor they really don't understand the implications of what it is she is asking for.

"This isn't like we would like to have a nice Spring shower, we would like to stop a drought. Our farmers are facing devastation, this isn't a flippant little request, there is a lot at stake here." In April, Texas Governor Rick Perry declared three official "Days of Prayer" for rain in the state where farmers are struggling to cope with the drought.