Extreme heat blanketed Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Texas, Colorado, and Kansas, while severe weather affected multiple regions across the United States on Sunday. The Pacific Northwest experienced unseasonably cold temperatures, with snow expected in the northern rocky mountains, and heavy rainfall predicted from the northern plains to the Upper Midwest.
The National Weather Service indicated over 63 million people were under heat advisories on Sunday. These advisories extended from the Southwest up through Denver and into Chicago.
In Phoenix, temperatures reached the mark of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 Celsius) on Saturday, then slightly eased to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) on Sunday. As per weather service forecasters, the first two weeks of June in Phoenix were an average of 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than usual, marking the hottest start to June on record.
“We have already seen some pretty significantly high temperatures in our area,” stated Ted Whittock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
“We are recommending that everyone reduce their time outdoors between 10 am and 6 pm, stay hydrated, and wear light, looser fitting clothing.”
Whittock mentioned that the heat in metro Phoenix would ease slightly from Monday through Wednesday. However, temperatures are expected to rise again later in the week, likely prompting another excessive heat warning.
Metro Phoenix has seen dangerously high temperatures in recent years, with 645 people dying from heat-related causes in 2023, marking a record.
To help keep residents safer, the city and Maricopa County introduced new measures this year. These include two new overnight cooling centers offering air conditioning after sunset. Additionally, more than 100 daytime cooling centers have been open since May 1, providing cold water and cool spaces.
In New Mexico, a heat advisory was in place over the weekend for the Chavez County plains, including Roswell. The high temperature was forecasted to reach 107 degrees F (41.6 degrees C) on Monday. Albuquerque saw a high of 99 degrees F (37 C) on Sunday, with a slight drop to 98 degrees F (36 C) expected on Monday. El Paso, Texas, recorded a high of 104 F (40 C) on Sunday and has opened five cooling centers.
Temperatures in Colorado on Sunday varied, reaching near 90 degrees F (32.2 C) in metropolitan Denver and 100 degrees F (37.7 C) in Pueblo. Southern parts of the state could see temperatures surpass 100 degrees F on Monday.
The heat wave began moving eastward on Sunday, affecting the Plains and the Great Lakes area. The Northeast is expected to experience the heat by Tuesday. In the Chicago area, the threat of thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy rainfall increased, while heat indices were projected to approach 100 degrees F (37.7 C) through midweek.
As the heat wave reaches the East Coast, temperatures in Washington, the mid-Atlantic, and New England are predicted to climb into the mid- to upper 90s. Elevated humidity levels will contribute to an even more oppressive feeling.
Last year, the US experienced the most heat waves—periods of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days—since 1936.
However, while much of the country bakes under the heat, late-season snow is expected in the northern Rockies on Monday and Tuesday. Winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of Montana and north-central Idaho, with as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of heavy, wet snow anticipated in the mountains around Missoula, Montana. Higher elevations around Glacier National Park could see up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of snow.
Meanwhile, a new surge of tropical moisture is set to bring heavy rain and potential flash flooding to the central Gulf Coast late Sunday into Monday. Heavy rains are expected to start Monday morning, with the moisture moving toward the Gulf Coast by Tuesday.
Heavy rains causing intense flooding continued to dissipate in southern Florida. Recent storms, which deposited up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain, submerged parts of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. This weather event occurred at the onset of hurricane season, predicted to be exceptionally active this year.
(With inputs from agencies)
The National Weather Service indicated over 63 million people were under heat advisories on Sunday. These advisories extended from the Southwest up through Denver and into Chicago.
In Phoenix, temperatures reached the mark of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 Celsius) on Saturday, then slightly eased to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) on Sunday. As per weather service forecasters, the first two weeks of June in Phoenix were an average of 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than usual, marking the hottest start to June on record.
“We have already seen some pretty significantly high temperatures in our area,” stated Ted Whittock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
“We are recommending that everyone reduce their time outdoors between 10 am and 6 pm, stay hydrated, and wear light, looser fitting clothing.”
Whittock mentioned that the heat in metro Phoenix would ease slightly from Monday through Wednesday. However, temperatures are expected to rise again later in the week, likely prompting another excessive heat warning.
Metro Phoenix has seen dangerously high temperatures in recent years, with 645 people dying from heat-related causes in 2023, marking a record.
To help keep residents safer, the city and Maricopa County introduced new measures this year. These include two new overnight cooling centers offering air conditioning after sunset. Additionally, more than 100 daytime cooling centers have been open since May 1, providing cold water and cool spaces.
In New Mexico, a heat advisory was in place over the weekend for the Chavez County plains, including Roswell. The high temperature was forecasted to reach 107 degrees F (41.6 degrees C) on Monday. Albuquerque saw a high of 99 degrees F (37 C) on Sunday, with a slight drop to 98 degrees F (36 C) expected on Monday. El Paso, Texas, recorded a high of 104 F (40 C) on Sunday and has opened five cooling centers.
Temperatures in Colorado on Sunday varied, reaching near 90 degrees F (32.2 C) in metropolitan Denver and 100 degrees F (37.7 C) in Pueblo. Southern parts of the state could see temperatures surpass 100 degrees F on Monday.
The heat wave began moving eastward on Sunday, affecting the Plains and the Great Lakes area. The Northeast is expected to experience the heat by Tuesday. In the Chicago area, the threat of thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy rainfall increased, while heat indices were projected to approach 100 degrees F (37.7 C) through midweek.
As the heat wave reaches the East Coast, temperatures in Washington, the mid-Atlantic, and New England are predicted to climb into the mid- to upper 90s. Elevated humidity levels will contribute to an even more oppressive feeling.
Last year, the US experienced the most heat waves—periods of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days—since 1936.
However, while much of the country bakes under the heat, late-season snow is expected in the northern Rockies on Monday and Tuesday. Winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of Montana and north-central Idaho, with as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of heavy, wet snow anticipated in the mountains around Missoula, Montana. Higher elevations around Glacier National Park could see up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of snow.
Meanwhile, a new surge of tropical moisture is set to bring heavy rain and potential flash flooding to the central Gulf Coast late Sunday into Monday. Heavy rains are expected to start Monday morning, with the moisture moving toward the Gulf Coast by Tuesday.
Heavy rains causing intense flooding continued to dissipate in southern Florida. Recent storms, which deposited up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain, submerged parts of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. This weather event occurred at the onset of hurricane season, predicted to be exceptionally active this year.
(With inputs from agencies)