Parts Of US Sizzle Under Heat Dome, Others Struck By Heavy Rains, Flash Floods

Washington
About a third of Americans have been in the grip of a brutal heatwave, with excessive heat warnings in effect in 15 states, from Washington and California on the West Coast down to Arizona, Texas and Florida in the south, impacting about 100 million Americans. And there are no signs of a let up. Not yet. And there are areas that have seen unusually high rainfall and flooding as well. An extremely dangerous heatwave will build over the Southwest into the weekend, and likely peak in intensity on Sunday for much of the region. Dangerous heat may continue into next week for parts of the region, said the US National Weather Service in a warning on Friday.
All-time heat records could be approached or reached at some locations in the Southwest. This would be most likely on Sunday, and particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions. Phoenix is also likely to record its hottest week on record by seven-day average temperature, it added. Death Valley in California, which is called the heat capital of the world, is expected to cross 130-degree Fahrenheit (54.4-degree Celsius). Its worst was 134 F (56.6 C) in 1913.
Phoenix, meanwhile, which is said to be the most heat-prone city in America, established a record nighttime low of 94F on Wednesday and is poised to set numerous additional records. Puerto Rico experienced its hottest month in more than 120 years in June, while Texas recorded its top 19 hottest days ever and parts of Michigan, New York and Vermont also broke their daily temperature records.