(Reuters) – Another day of scorching temperatures blanketed the United States from Iowa to the East Coast yesterday, but forecasters said some of the areas hit hardest by the prolonged heat wave would soon get relief.
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for cities including Washington, where temperatures reached 103 Fahrenheit (39 Celsius) by 1 pm, New York and Philadelphia, where temperatures hovered near or at triple digits.
“It’s hotter than hell,” said John Ghio, a tourist from St. Louis after visiting the White House. “We’re going to get a cold drink, catch the subway and go back to our hotel to cool down.”
Nearby, a family from China posed for photos in front of the US Treasury. They were debating whether to go on to the Washington Monument or wait until the sun went down.
“Too hot,” said Xiao Duan, 30, of Beijing. “My father says it’s like we’re being burned by flames.”
A cold front from Canada was expected to move south and break the record-setting heat and drop temperatures to below average levels over much of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states by tomorrow, the weather service said.
Severe weather, including thunderstorms and damaging winds, was likely to accompany the cooler temperatures, forecasters said.
