HIGHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THE SUMMER HAS JUST BEGUN. IT'S THE FIRST FULL DAY OF SUMMER WITH EXTREME WEATHER FROM COAST TO COAST. >> I DON'T EVEN HAVE WORDS FOR IT IT'S THAT HOT. >> FROM TROPICAL STORM FLOODING IN TEXAS TO DEADLY AND DEVASTATING WILD FIRES OUT WEST AND SWELTERING RECORD-BREAKING HEAT IN THE NORTHEAST. JUST OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY, A DOUBLE COMMUTER HEADACHE ON THE ROADS AND RAILS. ON THURSDAY, THE HEAT FUELLING A BRUSH FIRE, TRIGGERING A MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAM ON I95. AND POWER OUTAGES FORCING THE SUSPENSION OF AMTRAK AND LOCAL TRAIN SERVICE, CAUSING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS ON THE BUSY NORTH EAST CORRIDOR. >> YES, I AM EXHAUSTED. IT IS HOT. I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. >> Reporter: AND THE CITY STREETS DOUBLING AS SPLASH PARKS WITH THE HELP OF FIRE HYDRANTS TURNED SPRINKLERS. ACROSS THE TRISTATE AREA, INCREASED DEMAND FOR AC. FURTHER NORTH IN STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT WHERE SERING HEAT IS UNUSUAL, MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING AT ALL. >> MANY PEOPLE ASK IF WE HAVE AC. WE DO NOT. >> Reporter: ONE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL DISTRICT ENDED THE SCHOOL DAY EARLY SO KIDS COULD AVOID SWELTERING CLASSROOMS. HEAT ALERTS STRETCHING COAST TO COAST WITH MILLIONS UNDER ALERT ON THE WEST COAST AND MORE THAN 64 MILLION AMERICANS SIZZLING. ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN NEW MEXICO, A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARED AFTER A DEADLY WILD FIRE DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND FORCING THOUSANDS TO FLEE. CREWS NOWHERE NEAR CONTAINING THAT BLAZE. MEANWHILE, PARTS OF THE TEXAS COAST ARE STILL DEALING WITH EXTREME FLOODING. EVEN THOUGH TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO IS LONG GONE. >> I DIDN'T ACTUALLY THINK IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TWO DAYS BACK-TO-BACK. THIS MORNING WOKE UP AND WE WERE COMPLETELY COVERED AGAIN. >> Reporter: AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. EXPERTS ARE NOW PREDICTING ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPS FOR THE ENTIRE NATION FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. THEY'RE POINTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AS THE CULPRIT. HODA? >> ALL RIGHT. ERIN, THANK YOU. >>> LET'S BRING IN MR. ROKER NOW WITH MORE ON THE HEAT. WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. HEAT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. >> ABSOLUTELY. OUR FRIENDS OUT WEST, 26 MILLION PEOPLE FROM UTAH, ARIZONA INTO CALIFORNIA UNDER HEAT WARNINGS, HEAT WATCHES. AND THEN YOU COME TO THE GREAT LAKES, NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC STATES, 64 MILLION PEOPLE FROM HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, CHARLOTTESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HOT ONE WITH HEAT INDEXES CLOSE TO 100 DEGREES FOR DETROIT. NEW YORK 96 DEGREES, THAT'S WHAT IT WILL FEEL LIKE. BUT WHERE THIS FRONT IS PUSHED THROUGH, IT WILL BE COOLER AND LESS HUMID FOR NEW YORK, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. BOSTON ONLY 81 DEGREES TODAY. GORGEOUS DAY. TOMORROW AGAIN, HEAT INDEXES FLIRTING WITH 100 DEGREES FROM NASHVILLE, SPRINGFIELD, TOLEDO, NEW YORK CITY, BALTIMORE, RICHMOND. AGAIN, YOU HEAD UP TO THE NORTH. BEAUTIFUL FOR THE COAST. BOSTON 77 TOMORROW. HARTFORD 89. BUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, IT IS STARTING TO COOL DOWN INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. NEW YORK CITY WILL BE 88 BY TUESDAY. SAME IN PITTSBURGH. LOW 90s IN DETROIT. SO STILL WARM THERE. CINCINNATI WARM AS WELL. AND WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS HEAT INDEX SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR RISK TO EXTREME RISK FOR HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES. THEY COULD EVEN BE DEADLY IN THIS AREA OF PURPLE IN THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY INTO THE NORTHEAST. AND WE ARE WATCHING THE TROPICS YET AGAIN. AREAS THAT COULD DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY THIS ONE
