Gulf of Mexico storm possible as heat and fire grip Western states

What may be a slight break in the rainy action for much of the urban Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Tuesday is much appreciated following yet another day of Interstate 95 flooding Monday. Attention drifts south to an area of rain risk across Florida and the Deep South.

Weather Watch

Gulf of Mexico orange. A disturbance off the Florida east coast has become better organized as it prepares to cross the peninsula. Once back over water, odds are decent it will try to become a tropical depression by later this week — if named it would become Dexter. Even without significant development, a lot of rain is likely in Florida and the northern Gulf Coast, with totals of 3 to 8 inches common.

Wildfire ramp up. Across the western U.S., Alaska and Canada, fire season is raging. Canada recently surpassed last year to move into the fourth worst modern fire season on record for land burned, with the three-season total now around 70 million acres, by far the worst for that length of a stretch. I took a broad look Monday, including a bit on the whys involved (drought and heat are keys).

Lightning links

State of Emergency declared in New Jersey due to flash flooding as heavy rain slams millions in Northeast. (Chris Oberholtz, Fox Weather)

Three wildfires burn in single evening in London. (BBC)

The deadliest floods in Texas history: A state at risk. (Ade Adeniji, AccuWeather)

The hottest day (so far?)

The afternoon temperature soared to 124 in Death Valley, Calif., on Monday, the hottest reading in the U.S. this summer. We’re right at the half-way mark of the climatological season, which runs June through August.

If the 124 reading were to end up the hottest of the year, it would actually be on the cool side. In records they’ve kept online since 2011, the lowest annual maximum from the Weather Prediction Center is 125 in several years. It happened most recently in 2022.

Lest you get a chill, also consider the low in the valley was right around 100. Badwater Basin dipped to a roasting 99 early Monday.

For those seeking a truly chilly respite — a hole in the ground in Peter Sinks, Utah is your place. The temperature there was 31 as the work week began.

About

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

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