A record-setting heat wave is suspected in 22 deaths from the Deep South to the Midwest to the East Coast, authorities said. The temperature highs also suppressed some Fourth of July celebrations.

Heat-Related Deaths Reported

Nearly 156 million people in the eastern two-thirds of the nation were under heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday. A high-pressure dome of heat parked over the country was pushing air downward, heating it as it descends and resulting in temperatures of more than 100 degrees in some places.

In Washington, D.C., which was hosting Salute to America 250 festivities at the National Mall celebrating a Fourth of July that marks 250 years of independence, emergency workers and members of the National Guard were seen rendering aid to attendees with heat-related ailments.

Festivities were also delayed after the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency urged attendees to seek shelter immediately due to a severe thunderstorm that was moving overhead. Festivalgoers rushed to white tents for shelter.

Power Outages and Storms

More than 72 million were under severe thunderstorm watches on Saturday, according to federal forecasters, with the unsettled cells capable of producing winds 65 mph and greater, as well as quarter-sized hail. Damaging wind gusts were reported across Nebraska and Iowa.

A diagonal collection of states from Arkansas to Michigan to New York was the location of power outages for more than 900,000 utility customers on Saturday, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.

The National Weather Service said cool air from the north will push the heat dome, responsible for a heat wave that started midweek, south and west in the coming days, relieving some of the most extreme temperatures in the Northeast.

Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.