Forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center are warning that much of the United States will be blasted by significant heat next week, with a high confidence that above-normal temperatures will occur over large parts of the continental United States.  Portions of south Texas will be near normal as will the extreme Pacific northwest. While most of Hawaii will be near or slightly above normal, Alaska is forecast to be well below.

“A heat wave is forecast for much of the lower 48 late July through at least early August coinciding with the hottest time of the year, ” the CPC said in a statement. “Maximum temperatures are likely to exceed 100 degrees with heat index values of 105-110 or higher within the high risk of excessive heat, with many locations reaching well into the 90s in the broader slight and moderate risk areas, “the CPC added.