evidence: In July 2023, Snopes received mail from readers asking if it was true that metal traffic lights had melted in various locations around the globe. The photo spread as a historic heat wave in the southern U.S. was expected to expand across the country, in addition to the first full week in July 2023 being the hottest global average temperature ever recorded. [...] It's so hot ? in Texas even the traffic lights are melting. ? pic.twitter.com/XqpoKEYhvV — AlayaZBVegan (@AlayaZBVegan17) July 18, 2023 [...] We found the photo was from none of these locations. The photo showed a traffic light that melted as a result of a scooter fire in Italy in July 2022.