enjoy some well, it will seem cool at the time. in the 80s. we ll see how that goes. heather: we will find out what he has to say. thank you very much. gregg? gregg: we have soon an incredible number of record break temperatures across multiple states in recent days. for example, lansing, michigan, 103 degrees on thursday. hottest day the city has seen since record keeping began in 1863. i remember that year. minneapolis hit 101, breaking a record set back in 1949. how about russellville, arkansas, reaching 106 degrees, breaking a record set in 1964. heather: heat taking a toll in west virginia, 200,000 people have been without power for a week. utility crews are scrambling to fix power lines torn down in a massive storm last weekend. the heat index is expected to roach as high as 105 degrees in some areas with no power. can you imagine? county officials are encouraging people to use cooling centers
in the midwest today, the heat wave should move east by the weekend. we begin our coverage with abc s ginger zee. reporter: no matter how searing the heat or stifling the air happy fourth of july. reporter: there was no melting the patriotic spirit on the hottest fourth of july on record. in hoffman estates, illinois, they kept the water flowing and the tents and umbrella wide open. downtown chicago, it was almost too hot to grill. it is 99 degrees out here. it feels like 150. reporter: the windy city s temperature, soaring to 102. the millennium park fountain provided touch and go relief. triple-digit temperatures stretching from the midwest to the east coast. minneapolis hit 101, detroit 101 as well. in memphis, 100. and in the mid-atlantic, where 900,000 people are still without power, celebrations went old school. without the modern comforts of electricity or air conditioning. many towns in maryland are still dealing with downed trees and powerlines. and it was a tough