By Kristen Rodman, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

July 15,2014; 9:10PM,EDT

The sky is ablaze in red and orange colors above Winchester Bay, Oregon, on July 3, 2014. (AccuWeather Photo Gallery/"BigSandyKnoll")

With temperatures breaking records across the nation and in British Columbia, the United States is experiencing two drastically different temperature swings this week.
While scorching heat blasts the West, a fall-like chill is gripping the Midwest.
"It is not unusual when one part of the continent is unusually cool, that another part is unusually warm," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "This has to do with the jet stream taking on a see-saw look in an attempt to balance out extremes."

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"Many times when the weather gets cooler than normal in the East, the reverse happens in the West."

AccuWeather Western Weather Expert Ken Clark

Blazing Heat Soars in the West, British Columbia

Have questions, comments, or a story to share? Email Kristen Rodman at Kristen.Rodman@accuweather.com or follow her on Twitter @Accu_Kristen. Follow us @breakingweather, or on Facebook and Google+.

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