Major heat wave expands across central U.S.

It’s hot and getting hotter many spots the next several days as a major heat wave overtakes the eastern half of the U.S. It’s also relatively toasty in in the snow-covered far north.

Weather Watch

Extreme heat. Hot weather is overtaking a big chunk of the Lower 48, especially around the Mississippi River Valley region on Tuesday. Extreme heat warnings run from the St. Louis area to Memphis, Little Rock, much of western Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. Heat indexes are expected to rise to 110 or 115 and hot weather will persist over coming days while shifting eastward.

Lightning links

Crews in Oregon make progress against the nation's largest wildfire in 2025. (Christopher Cann and Theo Nguyen, USA Today)

FEMA search and rescue chief resigns after frustration with Texas flood response. (Gabe Cohen, CNN)

12-mile section of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens after Helene repairs. (Kelly Doty, WLOS)

Greenland melting

It’s peak melt season in Greenland as the Northern Hemisphere moves through and past the midpoint of summer.

This year is basically off the charts with melt going gangbusters over the past week in particular. At present, about 80 percent of the country is seeing melt conditions. Average for peak coverage is less than half that.

Warmer than normal temperatures are expected on the frozen island through at least the next week before any small break.

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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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