More than 175 million Americans in above-average warmth with record highs likely across large portion of US

Big cities from Texas to the Carolinas will reach the 70s and 80s by Wednesday afternoon. Even Chicago will get in on the warmer-than-usual weather with a high reaching the 60s, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Over 175 million Americans nationwide are still experiencing above-average temperatures – some as warm as 20 degrees above average – this week, with some cities threatening record highs. 

On Wednesday, the warmest weather will shift to the nation's heartland as the next storm prepares to move east out of the Rockies and knock temperatures back down. 

Big cities from Texas to the Carolinas will reach the 70s and 80s by the afternoon. Even Chicago will get in on the warmer-than-usual weather with a high reaching the 60s, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Dozens of record highs could fall again Wednesday, on the heels of 24 new record highs set Tuesday.

By Thursday and Friday, the next storm rolling out of the West will drop temperatures back to average, with one more warm autumn day likely along much of the South and East on Thursday. 

Here's a look at the forecast high temperatures through Friday as the warmth slides east:

Wednesday's forecast highs

Thursday's forecast highs

Friday's forecast highs