The northeastern United States sweltered this week in a scorching summer heat wave, complete with stagnant, sticky air and no winds for relief, forecasters said. Even in a summer already filled with stretches of very hot weather, this week will be stubbornly brutal, with no relief in sight until the weekend brings thunderstorms to the region, they said. "Plain and simple, this week may feel the worst of any week for this summer in the Northeast," said Accuweather.com meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. (Reuters)

Chinese artist Zhou Jie takes a nap on an unfinished iron wire bed, one of her sculpture works, after lunch at Beijing Now Art Gallery, in Beijing August 11, 2014. Zhou started her art project titled “36 Days” on August 9, in which she would live inside an exhibition hall with an unfinished iron wire bed, some iron wire sculptures in the shape of stuffed animal dolls, a certain amount of food and her mobile phone, for 36 days. The entire process is open to visitors and she may also interact with them, according to Zhou. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A model presents a creation from the Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2015 collection during London Fashion Week September 15, 2014. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

A model wears a creation for Anthony Vaccarello's Spring/Summer 2015 ready-to-wear fashion collection, presented in Paris, Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Photo by Jacques Brinon/AP Photo)

Miranda Kerr poses at the David Jones Spring/Summer fashion preview on Burke Street on August 10, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson)

Antonina Petkovic walks the runway during the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring Summer 2016 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 27, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

A model has a wig prepared backstage before The Blonds Spring/Summer 2017 collection during New York Fashion Week in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 11, 2016. (Photo by Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

A model poses at the Hashe presentation during Fashion Forward Spring/Summer 2017 at the Dubai Design District on October 21, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images)