Record-setting triple-digit temperatures scorch the northeastern US

People play in spraying water from a fire hydrant in the Kensington
neighborhood of Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 6, 2010. The East
Coast broiled under an unforgiving sun Tuesday as the temperature
soared above 100 degrees in several cities, utility companies
cranked out power to cool the sweating masses and the unlucky
sought any oasis they could find. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)  See more
pictures from the heat wave in the slideshow below.

Scorching temperatures easily breaking 100 degrees struck the northeastern United States on Tuesday from Virginia through the nation’s capital and New York all the way to Massachusetts. The weather broke high temperature records and taxed power systems as residents struggled to escape the heat.

Heat advisories were in effect for much of the region as weather officials warned that the heat could be dangerous. In Philadelphia, a 92-year-old woman is believed to have died as a result of the extreme heat in the area. A homeless woman in Detroit is also thought to have died from the temperatures.

Many stations reported temperatures that were the warmest seen in over a decade, and high temperature records for July 6th were easily toppled. Some of the new high temperature records set for the date:

• Allentown, PA - 101 degrees (old record 100 degrees set in 1999)
• Atlantic City, NJ - 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)
• Baltimore, MD - 105 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
• Newark, NJ - 103 degrees (old record 102 degrees set in 1999)
• New York City, NY (Central Park) - 103 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
• Philadelphia, PA - 102 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
• Warwick, RI - 102 degrees (old record 97 degrees set in 1999)
• Wilmington, DE - 103 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
• Windsor Locks, CT - 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)

Across the region power utility companies reported high electrical usage bordering on record setting. New York fell just below power consumption records set in August 2006 and in Rhode Island the electric grid overloaded.

While temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler on Wednesday, heat advisories will remain in effect across the region through tonight. The latest National Weather Service forecast calls for much of the area to see temperatures exceeding 95 degrees.

• Related - While the east roasts, the west chills. Record-setting low maximum temps hit southern California.