The eastern U.S. cooked for another day Wednesday as unrelenting heat again sent thermometers past 100 degrees in urban "heat islands," buckled roads, slowed trains and pushed utilities toward the limit of the electrical grid's capacity.
Philadelphia hit 100 degrees for second straight day, breaking a record of 98 degrees set in 1999. Baltimore hit 100 for the third straight day and Newark, N.J., hit triple digits for the fourth straight day. New York's Central Park was at 99 degrees at 2 p.m.
Meteorologists in some places began calling the current hot stretch a heat wave, defined in the Northeast as three consecutive days of temperatures of 90 degrees or above.
In East Central Indiana, hot conditions will continue on Thursday with high temperatures in the mid 90s and dew point values in the upper 60s, resulting in heat index values in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees during the afternoon, according to the National Weather service.
The NWS also issued a hazardous weather outlook for Delaware County for Thursday and Friday due to hot and humid conditions and the possibility of thunderstorms.
At Ball State, the high temperatures were noticeable for some, while others enjoyed the heat outside.
Psychology graduate student Elizabeth Roberds said she didn't have as big of a problem with the heat as she did with the air conditioning in most Ball State buildings. She decided to eat on the patio outside the Atrium, instead of dealing with cooler conditions.
"The buildings' temperatures seem to be at extremes," she said. "They're either freezing when it's hot outside or they're burning up during the winter. There doesn't seem to be a balance."
Roberds said she rather be hot than cold, but she's glad Muncie didn't hit the 100-degree mark.
Psychology graduate student Kathleen Niegocki said the only reason she ate outside with Roberds was because she's a good friend.
"If I had it my way, I'd be indoors enjoying the cold," she said. "It's easier being outside when you're in the shade under an umbrella and sitting still."
However, Delaware County residents had more to worry about than the heat, Wednesday.
The officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management called for an Ozone Action Day for the county, according to the NWS.
The NWS said the combination of high temperatures and the lack of wind, among other factors, were expected to produce conditions where high levels of ozone emissions would exceed federally mandated standards.
Riding the bus, car-pooling, postponing fueling up cars until after dark and putting off mowing lawns until after 6:00 p.m. help reduce ozone forming emissions during days of extreme heat, the NWS said.
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