110 Milion in South under heat advisory as air-quality concerns linger in Midwest: Thursday forecast!

The dangerous, record-smashing heat wave that’s already killed at least 14 people in Texas and Louisiana will continue Thursday across much of the southern tier of the U.S., as blistering temperatures in the 100-degree range scorch the region, along with punishing humidity.

The life-threatening heat will plague “a large portion of the nation from southeast New Mexico, through much of the Southern Plains, eastern Kansas, into the Lower Mississippi Valley, Lower Ohio Valley, Lower Tennessee Valley and the central Gulf coastal region,” the National Weather Service warned

Many areas outside of Texas will endure their most significant heat of the season thus far on Thursday. In total, more than 110 million Americans live where a heat alert is in effect.

The worst of the heat on Thursday and over the next several days is expected in cities from Dallas to Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville, where heat index values of 110 to 120 are expected. The heat index is how hot it feels to the human body when humidity is factored in. “Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths each year,” the weather service tweeted Wednesday. “Take it seriously.”

Here’s a look at Thursday’s forecast elsewhere in the U.S.