Last week featured some of the hottest weather of the entire year across part of the north-central United States, but AccuWeather meteorologists say that relief is on the way for some, but not all, of the region through the end of this weekend. And, temperatures in the Southeast will continue to throttle up. Wednesday was one of the most extensive days of blistering, humid conditions during the entire heat wave over the Central states. In Chicago, the mercury ascended to 98 degrees on Wednesday.