Heat wave moves east across U.S.

ST. LOUIS, June 28 (UPI) -- A heat wave that has brought record temperatures to much of the central United States moved east Wednesday toward the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the high pressure system has already brought more than 1,000 daily record highs in the past week, Accuweather.com reported. More records will be set as the east coast endures temperatures in the 90s and 100s through the weekend.

The heat wave is also early. In St. Louis, where the temperature reached 106 degrees at 2:25 p.m. Thursday, the mercury did not break 100 last year until July 11, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

While the temperature was a record for the day in St. Louis, it still fell short of the all-time high of 115 set July 14, 1954.

In Farmington, Mo., 60 miles to the south, the Fourth of July fireworks show has been canceled because of the heat and drought.

"We felt like it's absolutely irresponsible to have a fireworks display on a large scale with these weather conditions," city administrator Greg Beavers told the Post-Dispatch.

Fewer people were using outdoor swimming pools and more swimming inside. Golf courses reported players are staying home.