Unrelenting heat waves are still pounding the Northeast and Pacific Northwest -- but cooler weather is on its way for East Coast residents.

       Heat is a silent killer. On average, more people die from heat than any other severe weather, including tornadoes, hurricanes or flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

       MORE: Heat wave safety: What to know about heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion

       In Seattle's King County, two people have died from the heat, according to the King County Medical Examiner's office. In Benton County, Washington, a 73-year-old woman with underlying conditions died; the cause was related to hyperthermia from the heat, said coroner William Leach.

       President Joe Biden addressed the historic heat on Wednesday, saying, "We need people to check on their neighbors, especially seniors, who may need a helping hand."

       Jason Redmond/Reuters

       A digital sign shows a temperature of 109 degrees Fahrenheit during the scorching weather of a heatwave in Seattle, June 28, 2021.

       Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP

       People cool off in Silver Lake at Thornton A. Sullivan Park, June 26, 2021, in Everett, Wash.

       The dangerous heat also struck Canada. Vancouver police said they've responded to 98 sudden deaths since Friday, and two-thirds of the victims are over the age of 70. The causes of death haven't been determined, but police said the number of calls have been higher than usual during the heat wave.

       MORE: 'Feels like living close to hell': Surviving Washington's heat wave without air conditioning

       The record heat is over in Seattle and Portland. But on Tuesday, Spokane in eastern Washington hit a new record high temperature -- 109 degrees.

       The heat will continue for eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and California on Wednesday, and is also spreading into Montana and Idaho, where temperatures could climb above 100 degrees.

       The hot and dry weather is also helping to fuel fires; there are now 47 large wildfires burning in the West.

       MORE: How to conserve energy during a heat wave

       Meanwhile, the Northeast is on its last day of its scorching heat wave.

       Drew Angerer/Getty Images

       People cool off in the fountains at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, June 29, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

       Spencer Platt/Getty Images

       People cool off in a public swimming pool on June 29, 2021 in the Astoria neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City.

       Hartford, Connecticut, and Manchester, New Hampshire, smashed records Tuesday at 99 and 98 degrees respectively.

       More record highs are possible Wednesday with temperatures in the upper 90s. It may feel like 102 degrees in Washington, D.C., 104 in Philadelphia and 101 in New York City.

       In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to cut back on energy use to avoid a widespread outage, noting that about 1,700 customers were without power in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Wednesday.

       Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

       People play on the beach as they try to escape the heat at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Md., June 29, 2021.

       Click here for tips on how to stay safe in a heat wave.

       Severe weather will then move into the Northeast Wednesday afternoon. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect from western New York to Maine. Wind gusts will post the biggest threat from Albany to Boston to Portland, and isolated large hail and brief tornadoes are possible.

       Then the Northeast will get a cool down. By Friday and Saturday temperatures will fall to the mid 80s in Philadelphia and New York, and plunge to the 60s in Boston.