Summer swelter moves into Eastern US
Weather Service on high temperatures: 'Do not take this threat lightly' The mid-Atlantic and Midwest woke up sweating on Thursday, in the clutches of a massive heat wave that has already killed at least 22 people this week and was expected to tighten its grip through the weekend.
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for wide swaths of the country's midsection and East Coast, saying the combination of heat and humidity could spike the heat index, or "real feel" of the warmth, to 115 degrees Fahrenheit through Saturday.
By the weekend, the heat was expected to cover nearly 50 percent of the country and affect nearly 50 percent of the population, according to AccuWeather.com forecaster Mary Yoon.
"What makes this heat wave so impressive is the pure size and longevity," said Yoon.
"Through the rest of this week and into the weekend at least 15 states starting from the Southern Plains and Midwest and much of the Northeast will witness 90 degree-plus temperatures with high humidity."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43836799/ns/weather/?GT1=43001-------------------------
STAY HYDRATED EVERYONE.