It feels like mid-July across the South and East as a surge of summery heat brings record-breaking temperatures from South Texas to as far north as New Jersey. Highs are reaching into the 80s and 90s when they should be at least 15 degrees cooler.

A temperature record from 1881 is on the chopping block today in Knoxville, Tenn. Should the temperature reach at least 87 degrees, the 145-year-old record could be tied. This is one of 59 other stations across the South and East that could tie or break records in today's late-season heat.

Not all will endure the heat much longer, as a cold front swings through between Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the mercury back down to average temperatures with thunderstorms to boot. A sharper temperature gradient will be seen on the TemperatureRadar between the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast come Thursday.