Heatwave, humidity grip half of US

NEW YORK, July 21 (Agencies): Americans from Texas to Maine sweated out a steamy on Saturday as a heat wave canceled events from festivals to horse races, chased baseball fans out of their seats and pushed New York City to order steps to avoid straining the electrical system.

The National Weather Service said "a dangerous heat wave" sent temperatures into the 90s, with high humidity that made it feel considerably hotter.

It was expected to stay warm at night, in the upper 70s to low 80s, with more heat on the way Sunday for the East Coast.

"It's brutal," Jeffrey Glickman said as he paused during a run in Washington.

The 37-year-old got out early to try to escape the worst of the heat but still planned to cut his route short on an already 90-degree (32-degree Celsius) morning.

"You just have to power through it the best you can," he said.

Many people in areas facing excessive heat this weekend have no air conditioning, and cities opened shelters for people to cool off. With record- or near-record-high temperatures at night when many air conditioned places are closed, the weather can become especially dangerous for people who don't get a chance to cool down, experts say. The risks are greater for young children, the elderly and the sick.

Meanwhile, six deaths have been attributed to a recent heat wave that swept through much of the United States.

Four people died in the Eastern state of Maryland, one in the Western state of Arizona and another in the central state of Arkansas, according to U.S. media.

Mitch Petrus, a 32-year-old American football player died on Thursday from heatstroke after working outdoors in his family's shop.

In Arizona, an air conditioning technician, Steven Bell, died on Thursday while working in an attic, according to local officials.

Temperatures peaked Saturday in Eastern United States with many metropolitan regions hitting 38 degrees Celsius, compounded by high humidity.

The heat wave prompted event organizers to cancel their events, such as the New York City Triathlon, which donated its 12 tons of prepared refreshments to residents.

In Washington D.C., where a major celebration was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's moon landing, emergency vehicles were deployed as locals crowded the national mall after sundown to celebrate.

In a viral post which circulated on social media over the weekend, a police department in the state of Massachusetts appealed to local residents to hold off committing crimes until the heat wave passes.

"Due to the extreme heat, we are asking anyone thinking of doing criminal activity to hold off until Monday," the humorous notice issued by Braintree police said.

Over three days in July 1995, more than 700 people died during a heat wave in Chicago as temperatures rose above 97 degrees (36 degrees Celsius). Many of the dead were poor, elderly and lived alone.

While the Midwest will get some relief Sunday as a cold front brings storms and lower temperatures, the East won't be so lucky until Monday, the weather service warned. The heat will be the worst from the Carolinas to Maine.