Persistent Heat Waves in the Western Regions Accompany Ongoing Chaotic Weather Fronts along the South and East Coasts
Fresh Take:
Here's a lowdown on the weather situation across the U.S., covering severe storms and sizzling heatwaves:
Severe Storms Sweep Across the South and East Coast
Get ready for gusty winds, large hail, and possibly a tornado or two this weekend, as over 5 million people in regions ranging from the South to the East Coast brace for severe weather. Storms have been wrecking havoc for the past few days, causing EF2 tornado damage in Kentucky and EF0 damage in Tennessee. States like Oklahoma City, Wichita, and Virginia Beach are under a Slight Risk for severe weather, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Severe weather risk will shift into Texas by midday Sunday.
Heatwave Hits the West
The West Coast isn't left out in the cold as heatwaves sizzle California, with temperatures expected to be 10 to 25 degrees above average. These conditions could also drive up fire risks in affected areas, with alerts currently in place in Nevada and California. Temperatures in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, are expected to reach possible record highs. Los Angeles already broke a record on Friday, setting a high of 96 degrees, surpassing the record of 95 set in 1972, according to the National Weather Service field office in the city.
Air Quality Alerts
A cold front is expected to bring smoke from ongoing wildfires in parts of Canada's Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces into the U.S. this weekend. More than 20 million people across the Midwest, including Minnesota and Michigan, are under air quality alerts, with Minneapolis, Duluth, and Grand Rapids being particularly impacted. The smoke may even be visible as far south as the Gulf Coast.
Further Reading:
- Severe storm sweep hits the South, while the West bakes in dangerous heat
- Oklahoma inmates lend a helping hand to free family trapped for over a week
Sources: 1, 2, 3
- In the face of severe storms and sizzling heatwaves, scientists are closely monitoring the impact of these weather events on climate-change patterns, particularly in environmental-science fields.
- As smoke from Canadian wildfires moves south, experts are studying the long-term consequences of these events on air quality and overall environmental health.
