A blistering heat wave is setting its sights on millions of Americans across the South and Plains on Monday, including several communities recovering from destructive flooding over the weekend. Here’s the latest.
• Record-breaking weekend heat: Daily high-temperature records were broken from New York to Mississippi over the weekend, including some that were more than a century old, as a brutal heat wave embraced the mid-Atlantic and I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to New York. Philadelphia hit 98 degrees on Sunday, shattering its 1888 record of 97 degrees. Both Greenville, Mississippi, and Raleigh, North Carolina, saw a record 100 degrees. People in the region can breathe a sigh of relief Monday as cooler temperatures begin to set in.
• Heat wave heads to the South: The unrelenting heat wave shifts into the South and Southern Plains on Monday and Tuesday, bringing temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. Some cities could even see 100-degree highs, including Dallas and Little Rock. The heat index – a measurement of how the body feels in humidity and high temperatures – could top a dangerous 110 degrees in some areas. “During hot and humid weather (like in the forecast this week!), your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged in ways you may not expect,” the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said. The risk of heat-related illnesses skyrockets under these conditions, especially for outdoor workers and those without adequate air conditioning.
• Flood-stricken communities begin recovery amid sweltering heat: Heat alerts on Sunday spread over 1,000 miles from southern Louisiana to South Dakota, which was among several states inundated by heavy rain and devastating flooding over the weekend. Heat advisories are in effect for several areas that were swamped with floodwater over the weekend, including parts of northern Iowa, southern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska and northern Missouri and Kansas. In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds has asked President Joe Biden for a major disaster declaration after “catastrophic flooding” forced some communities to evacuate.
• Flooding turns deadly in South Dakota: At least one person died during severe flooding in South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem said. “I want to remind everybody to remember the power of water and the flow of water, and to stay away from flooded areas,” the governor warned. At least nine people were rescued from rising water in Sioux Falls, where emergency personnel reported stranded drivers and dozens of trapped vehicles. And the flood threat still isn’t over – several rivers in the state are swollen with flood water and will continue rising over the next few days, Noem said.
• More than 20 rivers at major flood stage: Flood warnings remain across waterlogged areas of South Dakota, Iowa and southern Minnesota, as well as along rivers that are running well above normal. At least 23 river gauges have reached major flood stage in the area, meaning extensive flooding of buildings, main roadways, and other critical infrastructure is possible, according to the National Weather Service. That number is expected to grow as water continues to collect across creeks and streams, eventually dumping into major rivers.
• “Monsoon-like” conditions coming to the Southwest: Leftover moisture from Tropical Storm Alberto will bring “monsoon-like conditions” to the Southwest and Four Corners region in the coming days, the National Weather Service said. A Level 1 of 4 risk of severe thunderstorms is in place across the region through Wednesday, meaning isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. While the rainfall may be welcomed by firefighters battling several active wildfires in the region, too much rain could trigger flooding and debris flows, making it difficult for crews to access burn areas.
CNN’s Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.