Friday's forecast: Plains, South stay hot
High heat will scorch the central U.S. and the Southeast while pleasant weather continues in the Northeast.
Central U.S.: Most of the Plains will feature hot, dry weather all the way from the Dakotas to Texas. Highs will be in the 90s and 100s. There is a chance of severe thunderstorms in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
East: While the northeastern U.S. sees another pleasant, sunny day, the Southeast will be a sauna of heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms.
West: Other than some morning fog in California and a few late-day showers in the Northwest coast, most of the western third of the nation will see clear skies and typically warm summer temperatures.
Weather history for July 24: In 1936, Kansas set its all-time record high temperature of 121 degrees in Alton. On the same day in 1936, the temperature rose to 118 degrees in Minden, Nebraska, also that state's highest temperature on record.