CNN
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Millions of people in the United States still struggle to cross the roads.record heatwave it’s moving toward the mid-Atlantic, while many Americans — including in New Mexico, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota — face “catastrophic” flash flooding this weekend . Here is the last one:
• The heat wave moves towards the central Atlantic: As heat alerts persist for more than 100 million people over the weekend, the risk of extreme heat will spread from the Ohio Valley on Saturday to the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday. Maximum temperatures in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic were 10 to 15 degrees above average. “An intense heat wave will continue across the Mid-Atlantic region, where record temperatures are likely,” the National Weather Service said Saturday. “Many records are possible,” the agency added. To the west, triple-digit temperatures are possible in central and southern California, Arizona and Utah.
• Temperatures are breaking records: Triple-digit heat ravaged Baltimore and Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The nation’s capital hit the 100-degree mark Saturday — the first time since 2016. It’s also the first time Washington has recorded such a high temperature in early summer since 2012. Baltimore also reached 101 degrees, beating the daily record of 100 degrees set back in 1988. “The combination of this heat arriving early in the summer season and persisting for several days increases the level of heat stress for those without reliable air conditioning,” the service said meteorological.
• Flooding prompts evacuations in Iowa: In Rock Valley, Iowa, all homes north of Highway 18 were evacuated Saturday due to high floodwaters. “I can’t even believe what I’m seeing right now,” said Daniel Heitritter, who evacuated his Spencer neighborhood Saturday. As the water in his house was up to his shins, he flagged down a boat to come pick him, his wife and his cat, he said.
• Iowa governor issues disaster proclamation: On Saturday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 21 northwest Iowa counties and directed all available state resources to help Rock Valley and other communities in response to “catastrophic floods”. A Level 3 of 4 risk of excessive precipitation is in place over southern Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.
• People saved from rising waters in South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, nine people were rescued from rising waters due to heavy rain, according to the city’s emergency manager, Regan Smith. Emergency personnel responded to five stranded drivers, 30 vehicles stuck in water, 10 calls about water issues and 75 traffic accidents, according to Smith. City of Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken signed an emergency declaration Saturday in response to the flooding. Cumulative precipitation amounts for the Sioux Falls area range from 6.5 to 8 inches over the past 72 hours, TenHaken said.
• Emergency flood operations prepared in Minnesota: Parts of Minnesota were under flood warnings Saturday evening, prompting Gov. Tim Walz to declare a state of emergency authorizing the Minnesota National Guard “to be available to provide support to emergency flood operations as areas across the state experience extreme flooding conditions,” the governor’s office said. . Water in Lakes Tetonka and Sakatah has reached “uncontrollable” levels. “Residents have been evacuated and the flooding has already caused significant damage,” the governor’s office said. “The intense rains had catastrophic effects. The flooding left entire communities under water, causing severe property damage and numerous road closures,” Walz said in a statement.
• New Mexico residents should return home after wildfire: The Salt and South Fork fires in New Mexico have together burned more than 24,200 acres. The South Fork Fire was 26% contained and the Salt Fire was 7% contained as of Saturday evening. Ruidoso residents will be allowed to return home Monday, and officials have advised them to bring at least a week’s worth of food and drinking water because grocery stores are not operating at full capacity. While precipitation in the area can help suppress fires, it can also cause flooding and mud and debris flows into burn scars. Meanwhile, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading them to the cause of the wildfires.
Threat of flooding in northern New England on Sunday
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast this weekend from New England to the Great Lakes and the Upper Mississippi Valley, according to the National Weather Service.
On Sunday, storms are possible across New England with a risk of Level 3 out of 5 severe storms covering parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The region faces the risk of damaging winds, a few tornadoes and isolated hail, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
A lower-level severe weather threat extends southwestward across the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley, according to the weather service. Precipitation across northern New England will bring a slight risk of heavy showers and scattered flash flooding.
“Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are likely in parts of the northeast,” the weather service said.
Elsewhere, monsoon-like conditions could also produce isolated flash flooding in the Four Corners region, the weather service said.
