"Scorching temperatures persist as millions brace for another week of heat in the U.S."

About 70 million people in the US are under heat alerts as record-breaking temperatures continue to scorch the South, with dangerously hot conditions expected to expand from the desert Southwest into Texas and along the Gulf Coast. Cities like Phoenix, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, and El Paso will experience temperatures 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average, with highs reaching into the 90s and 100s. Relief from the heat is forecasted in parts of the Southwest and Southeast, but extreme heat is expected to persist in New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. Meanwhile, the Northeast is at risk of severe storms, with damaging winds, heavy rain, and potential tornadoes forecasted for the region.