Highways buckled in Wisconsin, water use was cut back in Indiana and those who had power in the mid-Atlantic states were urged to conserve it, but the heat gripping much of the U.S. was only expected to worsen Saturday. The heat was blamed for at least 23 deaths, AP reported. Temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) were forecast in Philadelphia, authorities warned of excessive heat in the Midwest and the power outages surpassed a week in the mid-Atlantic, where extreme heat was expected into the weekend. A major storm in the area last week left behind damage, which combined with the high demand for power to stress the electrical system's capabilities, a Washington-area utility said. Hundreds of thousands remained without power Friday night in the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic. Tens of thousands were still without power in the Midwest as well after storms there this week. Utilities hoped to restore service over the weekend in Michigan, where temperatures were forecast in the 90s F (low to mid 30s C). Nine people in Maryland have died of heat-related causes in recent days, the state said. Authorities in Chicago said heat was a factor in six deaths there, mostly among older people. Three deaths in Wisconsin and two in Tennessee were also reported to be heat-related.
