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)

“The Queen” painted fibreglass by artist John Humphreys is displayed backdropped by other works which feature in this year's Summer Exhibition on it's 250th year at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The Summer Exhibition has been held since 1769, with around 1300 works on display this year and most of them available for purchase. It runs from June 12 until August 19. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

A man dressed in a condom costume walks at Caleta Portales beach, during a summer awareness campaign by the Chilean Corporation for the Prevention of AIDS in Valparaiso city, northwest of Santiago January 9, 2015. (Photo by Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters)

Visitors crowd an artificial wave swimming pool at a tourist resort to escape the summer heat in Daying county of Suining, Sichuan province, China, July 11, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Models prepare backstage before a presentation as part of Fashion Weekend Plus Size Summer 2015 collection show in Sao Paulo, July 25, 2015. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)

A child looks at a polar bear swimming under a water in its enclosure on a hot summer day at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, July 30, 2015. (Photo by David W. Cerny/Reuters)

Children play on a flooded highway during a summer downpour in Edsa, Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines on April 25, 2018. (Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Reuters)

British singer and actress Rita Ora performs on the stage at Sporting Summer Festival in Monaco on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Timms/Rita Ora Instagram)