Wednesday, July 16 National Weather News Headlines

1. Gulf Coast Braces for Potential Tropical Storm Dexter and Heavy Flooding:¹

• Invest 93L, a broad area of low pressure, has moved across the Florida Panhandle and is now in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, between Tallahassee and Panama City.² It is still showing signs of development.³
• The National Hurricane Center (NHC) maintains a medium chance (40% in 48 hours, 40% in 7 days) for this system to develop into a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Dexter as it tracks westward across the Gulf.⁴ It’s expected to reach the Louisiana coast by Thursday.⁵
• Regardless of development, significant heavy rainfall is expected to cause localized flash flooding over portions of Florida through today, and for portions of the north-central Gulf Coast (including parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) beginning late today and continuing through Friday.⁶ Localized amounts could approach one foot in some areas, posing a significant flood risk along the I-10 corridor. Hurricane Hunter aircraft are scheduled to investigate the system today.
  • Invest 93L LIVE Tracker, Updates & Forecast – Zoom Earth (Zoom Earth)
  • Invest 93L pushes along Gulf Coast prompting flood alerts as system monitored for tropical development (FOX Weather)
  • National Hurricane Center – Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (National Hurricane Center)

2. Texas Flood Recovery Continues as Drier Weather Aids Search Efforts:

• Texas: After weeks of catastrophic and deadly flooding, drier weather has finally returned to Central Texas, providing a much-needed window for search and recovery operations.⁷ Kerr County, which saw over 100 fatalities and many more missing, has no flood advisories or rain in the forecast, allowing crews to continue looking for victims.⁸
  • Latest Kerr County updates: Search and rescue suspended due to possible flooding, community unites at memorial sites (KENS5 – While this article mentions suspensions due to prior rain, current reports indicate drier conditions have allowed resumption)
  • Texas floodwaters damaged crops and endangered livestock.⁹ Now farmers and ranchers are cleaning up (AP News)
• New Mexico: The mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, is still grappling with the aftermath of historic and deadly flash flooding that tragically claimed at least three lives, including two young children.¹⁰ The community faces a significant rebuilding challenge, made worse by prior wildfire burn scars.
  • As many as 200 homes damaged as officials survey the aftermath of a deadly New Mexico flood (AP News)

3. Flash Flood and Severe Storm Risks for the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest:

• Mid-Atlantic/Northeast: Another round of heavy rains is forecast for the northeastern portion of Ohio through much of Pennsylvania, and southern New York.¹¹ Rainfall forecast ranges between 2 and 4 inches, but isolated areas may receive up to 6 inches, with some storms producing rainfall rates of around 2 inches per hour. This, on top of recent rainfall, increases the likelihood of flash flooding. Flash Flood Warnings were issued for areas like Baltimore/Washington DC as of last night.¹²
  • Daily briefing: Severe weather moves to the Midwest, NE flash flood (Weather & Radar)
  • Severe Weather Warnings Page – College of DuPage (College of DuPage)
• Central Plains/Midwest: Severe weather moved into the Midwest overnight and into today.¹³ Cities like Chicago and Des Moines could experience isolated severe storms throughout the late afternoon into the evening, mainly across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, with damaging winds of at least 60 mph.¹⁴
  • Daily briefing: Severe weather moves to the Midwest, NE flash flood (Weather & Radar)

4. Heat Alerts Persist and Western Wildfire Activity Intensifies:

• Heat: Dangerous heat will continue in the Pacific Northwest and expand across portions of the East. Heat Advisories remain in effect for various areas, including parts of Florida and southern Georgia.
  • National Weather Service – Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories (National Weather Service)
  • NWS HeatRisk – NOAA (NOAA)
• Wildfires (Western US): The fire year is intensifying in the West. The Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of other structures on the park’s North Rim, which remains closed.¹⁵ Critical fire weather conditions, including strong winds, low humidity, and dry lightning, are expected across large portions of Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, and Colorado, leading to concerns for numerous new ignitions and large fires.¹⁶
  • Wildfire destroys a historic Grand Canyon lodge and other structures (AP News)
  • National Fire News | National Interagency Fire Center (National Interagency Fire Center)

5. Canadian Wildfire Smoke Continues to Affect Air Quality:

• Canadian wildfire smoke continues to drift into the U.S., leading to deteriorating air quality across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions, including cities like Duluth, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago.¹⁷ Air quality alerts are in effect for several areas.
  • Canadian Wildfire Smoke Returns, Deteriorates Air Quality Across Upper Midwest (FOX Weather – YouTube)
  • The Hazy Truth: Tracking Wildfire Smoke’s Impact on Our Air | American Lung Association (American Lung Association)

AI Disclaimer: These headlines were researched and curated with AI assistance to provide a comprehensive and timely overview of current national weather events.