Sweltering heat and dangerous flash flooding are sweeping across the United States, with record-breaking temperatures affecting the West and northern Plains, while heavy rains prompt flood threats in the Midwest and South.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, a flash-flood threat continued from Tennessee to West Virginia, with slow-moving thunderstorms causing significant flooding in areas like Huntington, West Virginia. Flood watches were in effect for cities including Nashville, Lexington, Kentucky, and Charleston, West Virginia. This follows catastrophic flooding in Missouri over the weekend, which necessitated hundreds of water rescues. A fatality was also reported in Crawford County, Missouri, where a missing woman was found deceased after being swept away by floodwaters.
Meanwhile, extreme heat is gripping the West and northern Plains. Daily high temperature records are being challenged from Utah and Montana to Minnesota. Heat alerts have been issued across a vast area stretching from southern California to Montana and Minnesota. Extreme heat warnings were in effect for regions including Salt Lake City, Billings, Montana, Bismarck, North Dakota, and Duluth, Minnesota.
Multiple cities in the West experienced their hottest temperatures on record Sunday. Salt Lake City reached a preliminary high of 109 degrees, surpassing previous records. Billings recorded a preliminary high of 111 degrees, breaking its all-time record, and Miles City, Montana, saw temperatures rise to a preliminary 115 degrees, shattering its previous record.
Southern Arizona could also experience severe monsoon thunderstorms on Sunday, bringing strong winds and dust that may reduce visibility for drivers.
Shifting Weather Patterns
The intense heat is forecast to shift eastward early in the week, impacting the Dakotas and the Midwest by Monday. Fargo, North Dakota, is expected to see a high near 100 degrees. International Falls, Minnesota, could experience its first 100-degree day in over a century if the forecast high of 100 degrees is reached on Monday, breaking a record set in 1983 and nearing the all-time high from 1923.
The combination of extreme heat, dry conditions, and gusty winds is elevating fire danger in parts of the Northwest, including Washington and Oregon, where over two-thirds of the region is already experiencing drought conditions.
Northeast and Southeast Outlook
Residents in the Northeast are currently enjoying mild temperatures, but this is expected to change by mid-week. High temperatures in the 90s, accompanied by high humidity, are predicted for Tuesday in cities from Washington, D.C., to Boston, making it feel hotter.
In the Southeast, dangerous heat and humidity persist in some areas, though some relief is expected by Monday. Heat advisories remain in effect for parts of Florida, Georgia, and the eastern Carolinas. In South Florida, heat indices could reach between 105 and 110 degrees, creating potentially dangerous conditions due to consecutive days and nights with little relief.