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| Heat wave spreads across central and eastern US | Heat wave spreads across central and eastern US |
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| A punishing heat wave has settled over central and eastern parts of the US, pushing temperatures as high as 43C (110F) and causing up to 22 deaths. | A punishing heat wave has settled over central and eastern parts of the US, pushing temperatures as high as 43C (110F) and causing up to 22 deaths. |
| The National Weather Service warned of "dangerous" levels of heat and humidity creeping east, with no relief expected in eastern states until Sunday. | The National Weather Service warned of "dangerous" levels of heat and humidity creeping east, with no relief expected in eastern states until Sunday. |
| As much as 50% of the US population was under a heat advisory, officials said. | As much as 50% of the US population was under a heat advisory, officials said. |
| Meteorologists have put the temperatures down to a "dome" of high pressure in the atmosphere. | Meteorologists have put the temperatures down to a "dome" of high pressure in the atmosphere. |
| "This is an exceptionally strong ridge of high pressure that really has an exceptional scope and duration," Eli Jacks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the BBC. | |
| "The air is sinking, as it sinks it compresses and gets warmer." It also dries out, so few clouds form to block the high early-summer sun, he said. | |
| Meanwhile, in cities, asphalt and concrete pavement and buildings "re-radiate" the heat. | |
| "There's no good place to be," Mr Jacks said. Heat is "the number one weather-related killer" in the US. | |
| Across the central and eastern US, people and animals alike are struggling to keep cool amid the oppressive heat and humidity. | Across the central and eastern US, people and animals alike are struggling to keep cool amid the oppressive heat and humidity. |
| As the heat peaks in major population centres in the east coast, the number of deaths is expected to rise. | |
| Mr Jacks said the combination of high heat and high humidity makes it hard for the human body to cool itself - because sweat does not evaporate efficiently. | |
| In Minnesota - a northern state known for its frigid winters - farm livestock died from heat stress at a rate not seen in three decades, the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper reported. Turkeys were hit especially hard, the paper reported. | In Minnesota - a northern state known for its frigid winters - farm livestock died from heat stress at a rate not seen in three decades, the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper reported. Turkeys were hit especially hard, the paper reported. |
| In South Dakota, as many as 1,500 head of cattle have died in the heat, state veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven told Reuters. | In South Dakota, as many as 1,500 head of cattle have died in the heat, state veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven told Reuters. |
| Urban areas have opened cooling centres for the poor and elderly and the National Weather Service has warned people in normally cool areas to be especially cautious. | Urban areas have opened cooling centres for the poor and elderly and the National Weather Service has warned people in normally cool areas to be especially cautious. |
| Philadelphia has deployed police officers to manage hot, irritated overflow crowds at the city's public swimming pools. | Philadelphia has deployed police officers to manage hot, irritated overflow crowds at the city's public swimming pools. |