Hottest October day ever: Record breaking temperatures soar from Midwest to the South

The temperature climbed to 98 degrees in Nashville on Tuesday.

October 1, 2019, 5:25 PM

Dangerous, record-breaking heat is taking over the South and Midwest.

In Ohio, all classes and after-school activities at Columbus City Schools were canceled Tuesday due to the heat.

These cities not only broke daily records, but broke the record for hottest October day:
-- New Orleans: 95 degrees
-- Nashville: 98 degrees
-- Indianapolis: 92 degrees
-- Huntington, West Virginia: 95 degrees
-- Pensacola, Florida: 96 degrees
-- Mobile, Alabama: 96 degrees

But at the same time, the West felt like winter on Tuesday: temperatures reached 37 degrees in Billings, Montana, and 47 degrees in Idaho Falls.

PHOTO: Temperature Contrast
ABC News

The record heat will move to the East Coast on Wednesday, with temperatures possibly reaching 90 degrees in New York City and 95 degrees in Washington, D.C.

PHOTO: Heating Up
ABC News

Meanwhile, residents from New Mexico to Michigan are under flood alerts. Some cities, already drenched, could see more than 4 inches of additional rain through Thursday.

Near Duluth, Minnesota, some roads were already submerged under water as heavy rain fell and rivers neared record flood stage.

PHOTO: A car passes through high water in a section of County Highway K in South Range, Wis, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. The road was washed out and eventually closed off on Monday morning due to heavy rain that started Sunday night.
A car passes through high water in a section of County Highway K in South Range, Wis, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. The road was washed out and eventually closed off on Monday morning due to heavy rain that started Sunday night.
Alex Kormann/AP

ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

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