Heat continues to blast much of the U.S. as another Phoenix record falls

A Phoenix resident rests under shade while seeking protection from the sun and heat at the Human Services Campus during a record heat wave in Phoenix on Tuesday.

The extreme heat that has broiled large parts of the U.S. for more than a month continued Thursday, with 87 million people from California to Florida under heat alerts and little relief in sight for much of the Southwest. 

The National Weather Service said Thursday that it anticipates triple-digit temperatures to continue through Saturday in the desert Southwest and Texas, while the Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast will see daytime temperatures in the upper 90s through Friday, with high levels of moisture in the air making temperatures feel more like 110-120 F in some spots. 

By Saturday, parts of the Southeast will see some cooler temperatures, while much of the Southwest will continue under hazardous heat conditions. The record-breaking heat is expected to persist into next week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast temperatures up to 70% higher than normal across Texas, Arizona, Florida and parts of the Midwest.