A week of intense heat getting underway in Southeast U.S.

Somehow, it’s the last weekend of July. It’s going out in the way you might expect —roasting. You’ll find me hiding inside or at the pool until further notice.

Weather watch

Eastern Europe blowtorch. Turkey is facing a brutal combination of extraordinary heat, drought and deadly wildfires. On Thursday, a national record was tied with a high of 120 degrees (49.1 Celsius) in the country’s west, with a risk for hotter temperatures ahead. Funerals of 10 firefighters killed in a battle on Wednesday also occurred amid continued firestorms in the region.

Return to Ruidoso. In footage reminiscent of scenes on several other occasions this summer, Ruidoso in New Mexico faced raging flash flooding again Thursday. At least one home was washed down Paradise Canyon. Three were killed by flooding there earlier in the month — the repeated rounds have been amplified by a burn scar in the area from major wildfire in 2024.

Lightning links

San Francisco experiencing coldest summer since 1965 while most of country sweats. (Julian Atienza, Fox Weather)

Stunning images show Arctic glaciers’ dramatic retreat. (Jacopo Prisco, CNN)

Waterspout spotted coming ashore at New Jersey beach. (Amanda Hurley, Fox29 Philadelphia)

Extended extreme heat

What should end up the heat wave of the summer will build over the Southeast U.S. through the weekend into next week.

Days and days of high-end heat risk are anticipated. Locations like Atlanta, Raleigh and Jacksonville will probably see at least a handful of days with extreme risk.

Numerous records are probable through at least next Wednesday as highs rise to around or above 100 and lows only make the 70s to near 80 in most of the region.

About

Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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