U.S. Northeast is facing record heat on Thursday for a second day, with temperatures across the region on the rise.

In Washington, the mercury touched 99 degrees Fahrenheit (about 37.2 degrees Celsius) at 2:34 p.m. according to observers at Reagan National Airport, breaking the record for the date.

The capital city is hardly alone. All across the region, records have been shattered. In Boston, temperature reached 96 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing a previous record set for the date in 1949. In New York City, the reading in Kennedy International Airport was 97 degrees F, breaking the old record of 95 degrees. Nantucket, Hartford and Burlington all saw new records set for the day.

Thursday was the second day when temperatures in the northeast soared above 90 degrees. Residents flocked to pools and beaches, while many cities opening up cooling centers to deal with the heat.

In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged residents to seek air-conditioning, drink plenty of water and check on friends and neighbors. The city has opened 455 air-conditioned cooling centers through Thursday, with extended hours, at places including senior centers, Salvation Army community centers and public libraries. Cooling centers were also opened in cities such as Detroit and Baltimore, according to local reports.

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