110-plus degrees in Kansas as heat spreads East

The heat wave smothering the central U.S. ? and especially Kansas, which saw at least 18 areas at or above 110 degrees on Thursday ? was spreading east on Friday.

Triple-digit temperatures and some all-time heat records were expected in the Mid-Atlantic as far north as Washington, D.C., the National Weather Service reported.

The nation's capital, and nearby areas, could feel like 115 degrees this afternoon, the service added in its advisory for excessive heat warnings.

Record-breaking heat will continue into the weekend and possibly through the July 4th holiday, it added, "and overnight lows will struggle to drop below 70."

Much of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast on Friday joined areas in the Plains and Midwest with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories.

On Thursday, Norton, Kan., was the hottest spot in the nation, topping out at 118 degrees, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Over the previous five days, another Kansas town, Hill City, held that spot, reaching 115 degrees on Wednesday.

The Weather Channel estimated that on Thursday nearly 93 million Americans were in areas under heat advisories and 21 million in areas with excessive heat warnings.

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Indianapolis on Thursday saw its warmest June day on record when the thermometer reached 103 degrees.

Chicago reached 100 degrees at 3 p.m. local time, but the heat index made it feel like 111.

In Kansas City, Mo., the heat was suspected of contributing to the deaths of a man and an infant, KSHB-TV reported.

Meteorologists expect little relief over the next couple of weeks.

"This overall pattern looks like it is going to stick around well into July," Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.com, told Reuters.

Story: One dead, 347 homes destroyed in Colo. wildfire

"It looks pretty much rock solid centered on the Central Plains and Central Rockies over into the Tennessee Valley interior south," Sosnowski said. "It's anchored in there and it's really not going to change much."

Sosnowski said temperatures would spike toward 100 degrees from Chicago to Washington, D.C., and possibly New York every now and then, and areas from Colorado to the interior of the Carolinas would have little hope for temporary relief.

More than 1,000 temperature records broken in a week

Temperatures will push 90 degrees most days in New York, Washington and Philadelphia the next two weeks, while Denver, Kansas City and the middle of the nation will tend to see high temperatures pushing 100 degrees, he said.

The dry conditions and high temperatures have exacerbated wildfires in western states, and have threatened corn crops and stressed livestock in the Central Plains.

? 2012 msnbc.com Reprints

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48012442/ns/weather/

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