Record challenging heat surges from Central U.S. to East

After many locations over the Plains feel like late summer this weekend, the record-challenging warmth will expand to the Northeast next week.

Millions of people will be reaching for shorts and short-sleeve shirts for a few days as the warmth builds.

High pressure over the South is forecast to continue to pump warm air in from Mexico and provide abundant sunshine to Texas and the Plains this weekend. Some major cities will challenge record highs as a result, including Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, Missouri.

According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker, "Temperatures across the Plains will feel more typical of Labor Day than late October."

New record-high temperatures were achieved on Friday over Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. Denver and surrounding areas broke their record high temperatures on Friday. Denver reached 82 F breaking its old record of 80 set in 2011.

Greybull, Wyoming, reached a high of 77 F breaking the old record of 72 degrees back in 1998. Riverton, Wyoming, reached a high of 74 degrees breaking its record of 68 degrees back in 1995. Delhart, Texas, reached 87 degrees on Friday breaking its old record of 85 degrees set in 2012.

Temperatures will run between 10-15 degrees F above average as far north as North Dakota through the weekend.

On Sunday, high temperatures will reach the 80s as far north as southern South Dakota while highs will climb into the 90s over parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

"The dome of high pressure will be pushed southward as a storm system moves over the West Coast. Cooler air will move in early next week but the heat will continue over the southern Plains," Walker said.

As heat holds over the southern Plains, warmth will surge northeastward early next week. Summerlike temperatures are in store across the Ohio Valley into the East Coast. More record-breaking high temperatures are possible.

Many areas from New England to the mid-Atlantic and Southeast states will record temperatures 10-20 degrees above average.

Highs in Atlanta will be in the 80s on Sunday through Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to reach 70 or higher as far north as New York City on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Remember to stay hydrated when engaging in strenuous outdoor activities, such as exercise or manual labor.

From a safety standpoint, temperatures in automobiles on a sunny, warm day in the autumn can still reach dangerous levels.

Never leave a child or pets in a vehicle, for any length of time as a result.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, an infant died after being left in a vehicle in Tucson, Arizona. The high in Tucson on Tuesday was 86 degrees.