Millions of Americans sweated through a scorching weekend as temperatures soared across the US – while residents were also rescued from floodwaters that forced evacuations across the midwest. One person died during flooding in South Dakota, the governor there said.
From the mid-Atlantic to Maine, across the Great Lakes region, and throughout the west to California, public officials cautioned residents about the dangers of excessive heat and humidity. Forecasters say the heatwave will continue early in the week in the south-east, portions of the south and the Plains, providing the biggest worry in affected areas.
“It’s more important for people who are going to be outside to stay hydrated, because heat, humidity and low winds, even if you’re in good shape and not really acclimated to it, it could be a danger,” said Bruce Thoren, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist in Oklahoma. “It happens quickly.”
The cities of Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia all saw record heat over the weekend.
Last year the US experienced the most heatwaves since 1936, experts have said. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that excessive heat contributed to more than 2,300 deaths, the highest in 45 years of records.
Heatwaves are becoming more prolonged and severe as a result of the global climate crisis driven primary by the burning of fossil fuels.
At the borders of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, floodwaters rose over several days. In north-west Iowa, 13 rivers flooded the area, said Eric Tigges of Clay county emergency management. Entire neighborhoods – and at least one entire town – were evacuated, and the Iowa town of Spencer imposed a curfew Sunday for the second night in a row after flooding that surpassed the record set in 1953.
The Iowa governor, Kim Reynolds, declared a disaster for 21 northern counties, including Sioux county. In drone video posted by the local sheriff, no streets were visible, just roofs and treetops poking above the water.
National guard troops were helping with water rescues and transporting needed medications lost in flooding.
“Businesses are shuttered. Main streets have been impacted,” Reynolds said. “Hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities were evacuated. Cities are without power, and some are without drinkable water.”
NWS meteorologist Donna Dubberke said parts of northern Nebraska, south-eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and north-west Iowa received eight times the typical average rainfall. And more heavy rain was expected this week.
In South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem declared an emergency after severe flooding in the south-eastern part. Several highways were closed.
Areas south of Sioux Falls, the state’s largest city, had an estimated 10 to 15in (25 to 38cm) of rain over three days, NWS hydrologist Kevin Low said.
At least one person died in the floods, Noem said Sunday, without providing details.
Several rivers, including the Big Sioux, James and Vermillion, were expected to peak sometime Monday through Wednesday night, the governor said at a news conference.
Emergency management officials in the small South Dakota community of Dakota Dunes on Sunday issued a voluntary evacuation order for the area’s roughly 4,000 residents. Dakota Dunes is near the Nebraska and Iowa borders and is sandwiched between the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, both of which are expected to crest in the coming days. Emergency management in Dakota Dunes warned residents that a mandatory evacuation could come quickly if flood barriers are breached.
Minor to moderate flooding was expected along the Missouri River, according to officials with the US army corps of engineers.
The weather service had warned of the potential for rare tornadoes in the north-east later Sunday. Tornadoes on Saturday struck in Wisconsin, leveling the historic Apple Grove Lutheran church, founded in 1893 in the town of Argyle.
Burlington, Vermont, weather service meteorologist Marvin Boyd said a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of northern New York as a storm with wind gusts exceeding 60mph (95km/h) and the threat of tornadoes head toward Vermont near Lake Champlain. It was one of several expected to pass through the region Sunday afternoon.
“It’s an unusual alignment of ingredients for Vermont and northern New York to produce a threat of tornadoes,” Boyd said.
