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In some places the weather turned violent with high winds and heavy rain, NBC10 in Philadelphia reported. Wednesday was expected to be about 10 degrees cooler.

The unseasonable heat began Saturday, blanketing much of the east with temperatures in the 90s. Many school districts canceled classes Monday or Tuesday or sent students home at noon because of the weather.

In Philadelphia, at least two elderly women were found dead in their sweltering homes, apparent victims of heat exhaustion.

"Basically, it's an early-season heat wave typical for later in the summer", said Matt Sardi, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told The New York Times.

The heat was blamed for New York school children not performing well on tests.

"I had to read a simple story five times because the heat was too much", said Isaac Paniagua, 15, a freshman at Central Park East High School. "The heat makes people behave not normal."

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