Long-duration heat wave expanding in U.S.

One of the most significant heat episodes of the summer is growing in size and intensity with heat alerts stretching from Texas to New England. To the south of the heat dome center, a tropical disturbance is wandering westward and not getting much better organized.

Weather watch

Late-July heat. The footprint of an ongoing heat wave is growing as more than 125 million find themselves under heat alerts as the work week winds down. Record highs will become more numerous this weekend into early next week across the East Coast and into the South with 90s to around 100 widespread.

Meandering disturbance. A blob of pulsating showers and storms is shifting west in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It has a very low risk of tropical development as it does so. The system will bring several inches of rain to the coast, especially from the Florida panhandle to east Texas.

Lightning links

When is the typical hottest time of year where you live? (Chris Dolce, The Weather Channel)

Canada burning

Canada’s fire season is moving up the charts.

As of Wednesday, 14.5 million acres have been scorched. This pushes this season to the cusp of third most burned area in the modern record. It’s a sure bet that we’ll end up in the number two spot behind the insanity of 2023’s 42.8 million acres by the time the season winds down.

The latest belch of smoke is overtaking portions of the Upper Midwest. Code red unhealthy air is forecast for the northern half of Minnesota and surrounding regions on Thursday.

Officials in Canada expect this season will rage through August.

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

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