The record-setting heat that has gripped the Midwest is slowly moving eastward where the misery will be compounded by widespread power outages from damaging storms.

St. Louis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago and several other Midwest cities already have set record highs this week or are on the verge of doing so.

Southfield, Mich., resident Ashley Jackson says when her home's air conditioning failed, she was unable to sleep more than four hours a night.

The heat has been much worse than a mere inconvenience for some. St. Louis officials reported three heat-related deaths in recent days, and officials in the Chicago area say two people there may have died due to heat Wednesday.

Many cities have tried to help by opening cooling centers and extending the hours for their public pools.