Millions of Americans under heat advisories in northern states

Parts of over a dozen northern and northeastern U.S. states, the Mountain West subregion of the western United States, and some areas of Florida and California, were under heat warnings on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan were among states with wide-ranging extreme heat warnings, as officials said heat index values were expected to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday.

How can we beat the heat? The National Weather Service urged people to drink lots of water and stay inside if possible. For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommended frequent breaks indoors or in shade, officials said. They also urged people to remember that in extreme heat, car interiors could reach lethal temperatures within a few minutes.

Several cities broke their all-time heat records over the weekend. Salt Lake City recorded a high of 109 degrees on Sunday, topping the previous record of 107. The city’s temperature records date back to 1874. Billings, Mont., also logged a record high of 111 degrees.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on a recent surge of heat-related deaths in France.