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)

A competitor gestures as he crawls beneath barbed wire during the Tough Guy event in Perton, central England February 1, 2015. The annual event to raise cash for charity challenges thousands of international competitors in a cross country run followed by an assault course consisting of obstacles including water, fire and tunnels. (Photo by Phil Noble/Reuters)

Carlos Martinez (L), a representative of the Guinness World Records, examines the cooking process of a chocolate coin during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest chocolate coin in Caracas, Venezuela, October 1, 2015. More than 80 people will work with 100% Venezuelan cacao to create the coin that is estimated to weigh 1,000 kg, according to local media. (Photo by Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

In this photo provided by the RSPCA/Australian Capital Territory, an overgrown sheep found in Australian scrubland is prepared to be shorn in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, September 3, 2015. The wild, castrated merino ram named Chris, yielded 40 kilograms (89 pounds) of wool – the equivalent of 30 sweaters – and sheded almost half his body weight. (Photo by RSPCA ACTvia AP Photo)

A model presents a creation from the Fyodor Golan catwalk show at London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 16 in London, Britain February 19, 2016. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

Two children jumping through a water hydrant's shower on a New York street. They have come from a neighbouring co-educational playgroup organised by the city's Police Department. (Photo by Orlando/Getty Images). 1950

Robot couple Xiaolan (L) and Xiaotao carry trays of food at a restaurant in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, May 18, 2015. The restaurant, which opened on Monday, has two robots delivering food for customers. The robots were designed as a couple, Xiaolan and Xiaotao, according to local media. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

American singer, actress, and television personality Nicole Scherzinger stunned in red for her latest photoshoot early January 2022. The star, 43, posed in a string of outfits for Basic magazine. (Photo by Steven Gomillion for Basic Magazine)