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“I urge every West Virginian to exercise an abundance of caution,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said when declaring an emergency on July 21
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- Severe weather, including flash flooding and Tropical Storm Bertha, is expected to impact multiple regions across the U.S. this week
- Hazardous heat will intensify in the Southern Plains and spread to the Southwest, Great Basin, and Northern Plains
- Poor air quality from Canadian and U.S. wildfires continues to affect the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions
As people across the United States recover from dangerous weather events, forecasters are warning of more severe weather, from tropical storms to extreme heat.
Officials are warning of flash flooding that is expected to have a significant impact across the lower Mid-Atlantic from Wednesday, July 22, into Thursday, July 23, the National Weather Service said in an alert. Meanwhile, “monsoonal thunderstorms” are expected to continue in areas in the Southwest to the region near Arizona and Utah, up into the Great Basin.
“A well defined cold front — responsible for yesterday’s severe weather and heavy rainfall across the Ohio Valley and Northeast, is anticipated to slowly sink towards the southern Appalachians as its parent low pressure center pulls further away in Quebec,” the agency said on Wednesday.
They added, “The slow moving nature of the front sets the stage for impactful flash flooding today and tomorrow from the Virginia Tidewater into the Carolinas as heavy thunderstorms train along the boundary, with plenty of moisture to tap into.”
As those parts of the country brace for more rain, the Gulf Coast continues to watch Tropical Storm Bertha, which forecasters say will bring tropical storm conditions, flash flooding and coastal flooding.
As Bertha makes its way westward, warnings about tropical storms and coastal flooding have been issued from the southern edge of Alabama to the southeast of the Louisiana coast. Flash flooding is also possible in the region.
The fresh onslaught of rain comes after fatal storms impacted large sections of the country, resulting in eight fatalities after Arizona, Texas and Utah were hit by flash flooding, USA Today reported.
On the other end of the extreme weather spectrum, “hazardous heat” will continue to bake the Southern Plains through the end of the week. Starting on Thursday, the intense heat will extend to parts of the Southwest and the Great Basin, before eventually arriving in the Northern Plains, according to the NWS.
While some Americans battle heat, others continue to experience poor air quality resulting from smoke stemming from the long-lasting wildfires in Canada and the western part of the United States, impacting the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions, according to a separate NWS alert.
“The smoke may dim the sun and create colorful sunrises and sunsets,” the agency said. “Where the smoke is the thickest, it is reaching the surface at times, slightly reducing visibilities, and creating a burning or campfire smell. The smoke will also create air quality issues at times, mainly for sensitive groups.”
Earlier this week, tornadoes and flash flooding wreaked havoc in West Virginia and Kentucky, leading Gov. Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia to declare an emergency on Tuesday night, The New York Times reported.
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“Many West Virginians are helping communities deal with flooding, property damage, and dangerous conditions tonight,” he said in a statement. “State and local emergency officials are working to assist those affected, and this declaration ensures we can quickly deploy resources wherever help is needed.”
Morrisey added, “I urge every West Virginian to exercise an abundance of caution, stay off flooded roadways, monitor local forecasts, and follow the direction of emergency officials.”
Read the original article on People
