Blistering US heatwave spreads from south and scorches 190m Americans

Great Plains, midwest, mid-Atlantic and north-east hit by soaring temperatures, with New York City to reach 102F (39C)

A blistering heatwave that has engulfed the southern US over the past four weeks has spread to the Great Plains, midwest, mid-Atlantic and north-eastern regions, placing about 190 million Americans under heat advisory alerts, the National Weather Service said.

The extreme heat is expected to persist through Saturday, with Friday and Saturday forecast to be the hottest days of the summer so far for millions in the mid-Atlantic and north-east.