Roughly 100 million people across the United States are dealing with dangerous heat as a strong dome of high pressure pushes scorching conditions from the West into the Plains and Northeast. The most intense stretch is expected to hit the Northern Tier first, then move into the Northeast later in the week.
Temperatures in parts of the country are running 20 to 30 degrees above average for mid-July, with some areas also facing record-breaking overnight lows that offer little relief. CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan said the heat index across the affected region will climb into the high 90s and over 100 for several days.
Records Fall As The Heat Moves East
Billings, Montana, reached 111 degrees on Sunday, setting a record high. Salt Lake City also set an all-time high at 109 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, breaking the city’s previous 107-degree mark.
Most of Utah remained under an extreme heat warning through Tuesday morning, while forecasters also issued extreme heat warnings for large parts of North Dakota and South Dakota. The National Weather Service said the hazardous heat could shift east at times but is likely to linger in the central part of the country through next weekend.
| Location | Reported High | Heat Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, Montana | 111 degrees | Record high |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | 109 degrees | Extreme heat warning |
| North Dakota and South Dakota | Vast areas under extreme heat | Extreme heat warnings |
Fire Risk Rises In The West
The heat dome formed after the first heat wave of the summer began baking the West last week. Forecasters say widespread highs between 105 and 115 degrees could break many local records and raise wildfire risk further.
In California, the Summit Fire in the Antelope Valley forced evacuations outside Los Angeles and burned nearly 3,000 acres. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said crews had made significant progress, with containment at 31% as of Sunday evening, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Two more wildfires were sparked Sunday in Colorado’s high country as firefighters continued battling the Aspen Acres Fire, which had burned more than 850 structures, including hundreds of homes. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, toured the damage and said the state needs more funding to fight fires.
Rain And Flooding Add Another Threat
While the West and Plains bake under extreme heat, heavy rain is creating a different hazard in parts of the South. New Orleans saw several inches of rain that left some families wading through knee-high water.
Hundreds of people were also rescued in Missouri after historic flash flooding, including more than 200 people airlifted from a children’s camp when 6 to 12 inches of rain fell in the southeastern part of the state.
Farther east, the Philadelphia area was cleaning up after powerful microbursts hit neighborhoods with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency on Sunday, CBS Philadelphia reported.
The mixed pattern of heat, storms and flooding is expected to keep pressure on emergency crews across several regions as the week goes on. For many communities, the immediate challenge is not just the temperature, but the combination of heat, fire danger and fast-changing storms.
