Investigation into New Mexico wildfires begins, heat warning issued for parts of California, heat wave moves to New York

CNN
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A dangerous heat wave The sweltering parts of the Midwest and Northeast will soon shift to New York and the I-95 corridor, while deadly forest fires that claimed at least two lives and destroyed over a thousand buildings are still burning in New Mexico. Here is the latest news:

• The heat spreads south this weekend: According to the National Weather Service, heat warnings, watches and observations are in effect for over 100 million Americans across much of the Northeast and Southwest through the weekend. As the heat continues to intensify over the weekend and spreads southward, widespread temperatures above 95 degrees and even triple digits are possible in Washington, D.C. If the nation’s capital hits the 90-degree mark, it would be the first time since August 2016. New York City could see seven days in a row of 90 degrees or higher next week, which would be the longest stretch in a June ever.

• Breaking temperature records: Manchester, New Hampshire, reached 99 degrees on Thursday, setting a daily record just one degree shy of the June record. Hartford, Connecticut, reached 98 degrees, beating the old daily record of 97 degrees set in 2012. In Maine, Augusta reached 97 degrees, Bangor 96 degrees and Portland 94 degrees — breaking their daily records. Scranton, Pennsylvania, reached 95 degrees, tying the 1953 record. Northern New England will catch a break Friday, as temperatures will be in the 70s to just under 80 degrees across much of northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Some daily temperature records are expected in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Friday, and temperatures will remain 10 to 15 degrees above normal, in the low to mid 90s.

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• Firefighters in California prepare for 38 degree heat: California is set to get hotter Friday, with some areas expected to reach triple-digit temperatures. A heat advisory has been issued for parts of central California through Saturday night, including Colusa County, where firefighters are working to contain the Sites Fire, which has burned more than 19,100 acres. High temperatures between 100 and 106 are expected, which could hamper firefighting efforts. The heat wave is expected to peak Saturday and last through Tuesday, bringing an increased wildfire risk. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California is experiencing an early fire year. Year-to-date, 89,784 acres have burned, compared to 5,747 acres during the same period last year.

• At least two people die in fires in New Mexico: In New Mexico, authorities reported at least two people died, 1,400 structures destroyed and more than 8,000 residents evacuated due to wildfires. The South Fork and Salt fires have burned an estimated 23,406 acres of land combined and were still 0% contained as of Friday morning. Evacuation orders remain in effect for residents of the Village of Ruidoso and City of Ruidoso Downs, and additional evacuation orders have been issued in at least seven other areas. New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez called the wildfires statewide one of the “most devastating.”

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• FBI investigates causes of fires in New Mexico: FBI special agents have joined the investigation into the cause of the New Mexico wildfires, the agency said Thursday. “I can confirm that the FBI is assisting our local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation of the Ruidoso (NM) fires,” a spokesman for the FBI’s Albuquerque field office said. President Joe Biden is “closely monitoring” the New Mexico wildfires, the White House said Thursday. The administration also agreed to an expedited declaration by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that “releases additional federal and FEMA assistance to affected communities.”

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• Storm surge from Alberto floods parts of Texas: Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall near Tampico, Mexico, on Thursday and the storm surge brought flooding along the Texas coast. Rows of homes were underwater as Alberto’s storm surge inundated the Texas coastal town of Surfside Beach on Thursday, and a 3.5-foot storm surge was reported in Corpus Christi. “There are little fish swimming all over my yard. There are water snakes all over the steps,” said one Texas coastal resident Michael Kubecka. Due to the heavy rainfall of the last two days, there is still a risk of flooding in South Texas on Friday. In some Texas cities, including Rockport and Alice, Alberto received almost three times as much rain within 48 hours as the June average. Flood warnings are in place in the coastal regions of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

• Storm brewing off the coast of Florida: The National Hurricane Center said Thursday evening that a storm system in the Atlantic had a 50 percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. “The system is expected to reach the northeast coast of Florida or coastal Georgia early Friday, and stakeholders there should monitor the system’s track,” the center said.