Heat and humidity are stretching east from the Mississippi River valley, with heat indices topping 110F in some areas

A punishing heat wave will bring hot temperatures to eastern US and linger for several days, underscoring how climate change heats things up.

The weather service said several major metropolitan areas in the Southeast were expected to face an extreme heat risk for several days.

Heat advisories are in place in 29 states, posing serious risks to humans and critical infrastructure as utilities prepare for increased demand.

Heat and humidity are stretching east from the Mississippi River valley, with heat indices topping 110F in some areas

Heat advisories affect 168 million Americans in the mid-west, south-east and parts of the north-east US.

The all-time high temperature at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius).