Drought Persists Across Northeast and Southeast U.S. Regions

 

Raleigh: State and local drought agencies this week reported persistent drought conditions across North Carolina, Rhode Island and South Carolina, issuing county-level classifications and updates after months of below-average precipitation. The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council published counts of exceptional, extreme, severe and moderate counties, while Rhode Island's governor...

Utah forecasters warn of record-challenging weekend heat

 

Salt Lake City. Forecasters in Salt Lake City warned that a strong ridge of high pressure will bring extreme, record-challenging heat to Utah Friday through the weekend, prompting Extreme Heat Warnings, Red Flag fire warnings, and forecasts of triple-digit temperatures beginning Friday and intensifying Saturday and Sunday. Officials issued advisories...

United States braces for new western heat dome

 

The US National Weather Service has issued Extreme Heat Watches for large areas of Montana, northern Wyoming, and Utah as a powerful heat dome develops over the western United States. Issued on 8 July 2026, the watches cover conditions expected from Saturday, 11 July, through late Sunday, 12 July, with...

Texas flooding leaves over 100 dead, 160 missing

 

Historic flooding in central Texas has killed at least 110 people and left 161 missing after torrential rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River on July 4, authorities said at an afternoon news conference. The river rose more than 26 feet in under an hour, sending powerful floodwaters through homes and summer...

Washington’s Chelan Hills wildfire kills one, razes homes

 

ORONDO, Washington – A fast-moving and deadly wildfire in North Central Washington has killed at least one person, destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate, authorities said on July 7, 2026. The Chelan Hills Fire has burned more than 9,735 acres in Douglas County, across the...

California wildfire near Camp Pendleton forces evacuations

 

Camp Pendleton, California, is battling a massive, fast-moving wildfire that has already burned more than 1,000 acres on and around the Marine Corps base, triggering emergency evacuations and putting thousands of people at risk. The blaze, which broke out near military training areas, is threatening base facilities as well as...

Utah wildfire season shatters five-year acreage record

 

Utah’s 2026 wildfire season has already surpassed the total acreage burned in the previous five years combined, state officials reported as of July 6. Wildfires have consumed 357,173 acres statewide, exceeding the 355,944 acres that burned from 2021 through 2025. The Cottonwood Fire, which started on June 22 near Cottonwood...

Residents Sue Over State's Highest PFAS in Tap

 

St. Pauls, North Carolina. On June 16, residents filed a lawsuit against Robeson County after tests cited in the complaint found PFAS in treated tap water at levels higher than any treatment plant in the state; the Robeson County Landfill, about half a mile from homes, is named as the...

Redmond chlorine gas leak prompts mass park evacuation

 

Redmond, Oregon, faced a major public safety emergency on Monday, July 6, 2026, when a toxic chlorine gas leak at Centennial Park’s municipal splash pad forced the rapid evacuation of families, children, and staff. Emergency responders, including firefighters, police officers, and a specialized Hazmat team, arrived quickly, secured the park...

Aspen Acres blaze grows, forcing evacuations and damage

 

PUEBLO, Colorado — The Aspen Acres fire expanded across Pueblo and Custer counties this week, burning tens of thousands of acres and prompting mandatory and pre-evacuation orders; incident maps showed roughly 93,634 acres on July 7 and about 96,031 acres by July 8, with officials reporting containment near 15 percent...