A long-lasting heat wave continues to bring triple-digit temperatures Thursday, raising concerns that such extreme weather could become the new normal in the Western U.S. Portland reached 112 degrees on Sunday — the highest on record — and Seattle hit a record high of 104 degrees the same evening, according to the National Weather Service. More than 50 million Americans in eight different states were under heat warnings and watches this week as the National Weather Service urged people to remain hydrated and to stay indoors. And the persistent heat wave across the West isn't going away anytime soon. "No easy way to say this, so we'll just cut straight to the chase: it's going to be *very* hot for a *long time* next week," the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City tweeted Friday. "The entire area is going to be way above normal for all of next week." Credit: John Froschauer (@APnews), Brian Hayes (@statesmanjournal), Ethan Miller (@gettyimages)