Grueling heat that has been gripping parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri this week will expand into the Southeast and mid-Atlantic over the next few days, according to AccuWeather.com. Starting Thursday, people from Augusta, Ga., to Raleigh, N.C., will face dangerous temperatures that will feel as hot as 110 degrees with humidity factored in.

By Saturday, temperatures will hit the 110-degree mark farther north into Richmond, Va. According to Joe Bastardi, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.com, Richmond could tie or break the all-time record high temperature of 107 degrees (from August 6, 1918) on Saturday.

Even farther north into Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and Newark, N.J., actual temperatures could easily reach 100 degrees Saturday.

The culprit behind the heat is an area of strong high pressure that will be developing both in the lower and upper levels of the atmosphere across the Southeast.

While the worst of the heat will be focused from eastern Georgia to southeastern Virginia, this area of high pressure will send temperatures soaring into the upper 90s across a larger area from Arkansas and Louisiana to Virginia.

While people across the Southeast are used to intense summer heat, these next few days could be taxing on even these well-adjusted Southerners.

In order to avoid an unwanted trip to the hospital, people across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic should be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous outdoor activities over the next few days.

Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to developing heat-related illnesses and should be checked on often. Remember to never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle even for a short period of time.

People should also be aware of the possibility of power outages due to overuse of air conditioning.