Photos: Beating the heat wave
The oppressively hot weather in the Northeast has surprised meteorologists: It's moving backward across America, something that rarely happens. Normally U.S. weather systems move west to east. The western Atlantic high pressure system behind the hot dry weather started moving east to west last week and by Tuesday was centered over lower Michigan, said Jon Gottschalck, the operations chief at the National Weather Service's prediction branch. He said the high pressure is about to return eastward, extending the Northeastern heat wave an extra day or so until the weekend. - AP See how people and animals are dealing with the heat.
Heat Wave Brookfield Zoo
In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Hudson, one of the polar bears at Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill., enjoys a cool swim Thursday, July 18, 2013, as temperatures climbed into the mid 90s. The National Weather Service says it will feel like 105 degrees across parts of the state Thursday as a heat wave continues to bake Illinois. (AP Photo/Chicago Zoological Society, Jim Schulz)
Heat Wave
Mya Edelman, 9, of West Bend embraces the droplets of water she happens to come in contact with as she makes her way across the Splash Pad in Regner Park in West Bend, Wis on Thursday evening, July 18, 2013. The largest heat wave of the summer has stagnated over large regions, bringing sizzling temperatures and little hope of relief without rain, a growing possibility for some hard-hit areas as the weekend approaches. (AP Photo/West Bend Daily News, John Ehlke)
Heat Wave
Fox Valley Griffin, an American Standardbred race horse, is surrounded by cooling fans after training at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The National Weather Service says daily temperatures are expected to reach highs in the mid to upper 90s throughout the Midwest. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Heat wave NYC
A woman, who gave her name as Egypt, drinks water from melting ice being drained from a water vendor's icebox on Thursday, July 18, 2013 in Harlem, N.Y. An excessive heat warning is again in effect as the city hit the high-90s in a fifth day of a heatwave. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Heat Wave
As temperatures soar, 15-month-old Eleanor Schiller cools off in an inflatable pool Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Brainerd, Minn. (AP Photo/Brainerd Dispatch, Kelly Humphrey)
Ralph Rosado
Ralph Rosado, 52, stands under a fountain as water hits him during a warm day caused by a heat wave, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Union City, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mylo Gomez
Mylo Gomez, 6, leaps over a fountain while keeping cool during a heat wave, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Union City, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Heat Wave
Commuters react to the heat while riding the subway, Thursday, July 18, 2013 in New York. A heat advisory remains in effect for the New York metropolitan area as the temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Heat Wave
Salesman Lu Pichardo carries a customer's air conditioner at Appliances R Us, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Philadelphia. An excessive heat warning is again in effect for the Philadelphia region with highs expected to head up to the high-90s (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Heat Wave
Hussein Hayari, owner of Appliances R Us, wipes the perspiration from his face in the afternoon heat, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Philadelphia. An excessive heat warning is again in effect for the Philadelphia region with highs expected to head up to the high-90s (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Heat Wave
Salesmen Hyper Rosado, left, and Lu Pichardo take a moment in between customers next to pallets of air conditioners during the afternoon heat at Appliances R Us, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Philadelphia. An excessive heat warning is again in effect for the Philadelphia region with highs expected to head up to the high-90s (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Heat Wave
Salesman Hyper Rosado cools off in between customers during the afternoon heat at Appliances R Us, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Philadelphia. An excessive heat warning is again in effect for the Philadelphia region with highs expected to head up to the high-90s (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Maria Guevara
Maria Guevara, 66, stands under a fountain as water hits her during a warm day caused by a heat wave, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Union City, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Javier Soler
Javier Soler, 20, of West New York, N.J., flips his head back as water from a fountain runs off his hair during a heat wave, Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Union City, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Heat Wave
A woman uses a magazine to fan herself while waiting for the trains at the Barclays subway station, Thursday, July 18, 2013 in New York. A heat advisory remains in effect for the New York metropolitan area. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Heat Wave
Visitors to Minnehaha Falls take a lunch break on a rock alongside the fast-flowing Minnehaha Creek, Thursday, July 18, 2013 in Minneapolis where temperatures hovered near the mid-90's during a continuing heat wave which has hit much of Minnesota and other parts of the U.S. A cool front is predicted for Minnesota. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Prophetstown-Water Park
Lifeguard Nick Friend watches over the activity center at the Prophetstown Aquatic Center, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 in West Lafayette, Ind. The largest heat wave of the summer has stagnated over large regions, bringing sizzling temperatures and little hope of relief without rain, a growing possibility for some hard-hit areas as the weekend approaches.(AP Photo/The Journal & Courier, Brent Drinkut) MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES
Prophetstown-Water Park
Riders make their way through the lazy river at the Prophetstown Aquatic Center, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 in West Lafayette, Ind. The largest heat wave of the summer has stagnated over large regions, bringing sizzling temperatures and little hope of relief without rain, a growing possibility for some hard-hit areas as the weekend approaches.(AP Photo/The Journal & Courier, Brent Drinkut) MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES
Heat Wave Brookfield Zoo
In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Isis, a 7-year-old African lion, enjoys an ice treat filled with beef bones at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill., Thursday, July 18, 2013, as temperatures climbed into the 90s. The National Weather Service says it will feel like 105 degrees across parts of the state on Thursday as a heat wave continues to bake Illinois. (AP Photo/Chicago Zoological Society, Jim Schulz)
Heat Wave Brookfield Zoo
In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, a 6-month-old sloth bear cub cools off with a frozen treat at Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill., Thursday, July 18, 2013, as temperatures climbed into the 90s. The National Weather Service says it will feel like 105 degrees across parts of the state Thursday as a heat wave continues to bake Illinois. (AP Photo/Chicago Zoological Society, Jim Schulz)
Heat Wave
Deondria Harris, 8, of Milwaukee smiles as water is dumped on her head at the Splash Pad in Regner Park in West Bend, Wis on Thursday evening, July 18, 2013. The largest heat wave of the summer has stagnated over large regions, bringing sizzling temperatures and little hope of relief without rain, a growing possibility for some hard-hit areas as the weekend approaches. (AP Photo/West Bend Daily News, John Ehlke)
Heat Wave
Tillman Churchman of Horicon reacts as a bucket of water is dumped over his head at the Splash Pad in Regner Park in West Bend, Wis on Thursday evening, July 18, 2013. The largest heat wave of the summer has stagnated over large regions, bringing sizzling temperatures and little hope of relief without rain, a growing possibility for some hard-hit areas as the weekend approaches. (AP Photo/West Bend Daily News, John Ehlke)
Heat Wave
Jermaine Lumpkin, of D&J Amusements, towels himself off while setting up for Des Plaines Summer Fling in the heat Thursday, July 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Daily Herald, Bob Chwedyk) MANDATORY CREDIT MAGS OUT
NEW YORK - From South Dakota to Massachusetts, temperatures surged to potentially dangerous levels Wednesday as the largest heat wave of the s…