Stifling heat forecast for half the U.S. | Reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters) -Excessive heat was forecast to blanket half of the continental United States on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service issued heat warnings or advisories for 24 states stretching from parts of Texas and Oklahoma to the plains, the Mississippi Valley and the east coast.

"It's going to stay hot in the central to southern plain states," said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the weather service.

The heat on the east coast is not expected to be as intense.

"For the most part it's a one day heat wave," Vaccaro said.

But there was no reprieve from the heat in sight for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Yesterday was the 13th consecutive day temperatures hovered at or above 100 degrees, according to the weather service. And the heat was expected to continue through next weekend.

Air quality alerts were also in effect on the east coast from Virginia to New Jersey.

via reuters.com