Vue lecture

Record-breaking heat dome expected to bring dangerous temperatures to US south-west

As wildfires rage and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-11F (43-46C) are forecast

Surging temperatures are expected to broil more than 45 million people as a heat dome settles in across the south-western US through the end of August and into early September, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

As wildfires rage in some parts and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-115F (43-46C) are forecast, with limited cooling relief in the evenings and overnight. Experts predict that some record highs could be tied or broken this month and the weather agency warned of the scorching late summer heat as a potential health hazard.

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© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

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Indiana mayor calls it ‘unacceptable’ for thousands to have no power two weeks after storm

Gary mayor says 12 days is ‘too long’ for residents to go without power after storm downed trees on to power lines

The mayor of Gary, Indiana, has said it is “unacceptable” that thousands of residents in the city are still without power nearly two weeks after an 11 August storm known as a derecho brought 90 mph, straight-line winds, downing trees on to power lines.

“We’re at day 12, and 12 days is too long for families to be without power,” Eddie Melton, Gary’s mayor, said in a video address on Sunday, adding that he is continuing to pressure the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Nipsco) to restore the city’s power before the end of Tuesday.

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© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

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Fast-moving Hawk wildfire is about 27% contained in Reno, Nevada, officials say

Tens of thousands are still under evacuation orders or warnings amid ‘human-caused’, wind-driven blaze

The Hawk fire is about 27% contained, authorities said on Monday afternoon, two days after the fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire sparked near Reno, Nevada.

Authorities added that 23,000 people are under a “go-now” order and 40,000 people are under a “get-set” warning, an improvement from the 90,000 Nevadans under evacuation orders or warnings on Monday morning.

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© Photograph: Trevor Bexon/Getty Images

© Photograph: Trevor Bexon/Getty Images

© Photograph: Trevor Bexon/Getty Images

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Devastation, doubt and blame: Hurricane Helene looms over North Carolina’s US Senate race

The Democratic and the Republican candidate each blame the other for the bungled recovery effort after storm struck region

Two years after North Carolina suffered the worst natural disaster in its history when Hurricane Helene struck the state’s western half, life in the hardest-hit areas appears back to normal. Downtowns are lively, blocked roads have been reopened and rivers are flowing below their banks.

But the telltale evidence of the disaster’s expensive impacts can still be seen – from “for rent” signs in storefronts whose businesses never came back to debris from the storm still lurking in some waterways. And in the race for North Carolina’s US Senate seat, it’s almost as if the hurricane never left.

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© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forces thousands to evacuate homes

Human-caused Hawk fire covers more than 15,000 acres as blaze approaches University of Nevada campus in Reno

A fast-moving Nevada wildfire exploded to more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno and urging nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus.

The Hawk fire’s “GO NOW” evacuation zone had expanded to the edge of the university campus as strong, gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation fueled the blaze, according to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Reno. Of those urged to evacuate, 42,000 were under strict orders. An additional 45,000 people were in the evacuation warning zone, and encouraged to leave now and be prepared to stay away for several days to clear the roads for first-responders.

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© Photograph: Simon Jowitt/Reuters

© Photograph: Simon Jowitt/Reuters

© Photograph: Simon Jowitt/Reuters

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Stores are selling Halloween stuff in August. Time has lost all meaning | Dave Schilling

Capitalism and the climate crisis are conspiring to destroy the concept of seasons. I’ll take solace in my pumpkin spice

Happy spooky season, everyone! Get those jack-o’-lanterns out, because Halloween is just around the corner!

Just kidding, no, it’s not.

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© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

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Tropical Storm Moke poised to slam into Hawaii just days after Hurricane Lala

Weather service warns of flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas strongly affected by previous storm

Tropical Storm Moke is poised to slam into the south of Hawaii’s islands, with forecasters predicting heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday evening, just days after the region was hit by Hurricane Lala.

As with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke’s rain and heavy winds as it passes south of a direct hit late on Saturday and into Sunday.

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© Photograph: Aina Akamu/AP

© Photograph: Aina Akamu/AP

© Photograph: Aina Akamu/AP

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Indiana residents endure 11th day without power after storms topple power lines

33,124 residents still in the dark as utility company says it is working to restore power in north-west of state

Thousands of residents of north-west Indiana on Saturday were headed for their 11th day without electric power after storms swept through the state, toppling trees and power lines, earlier in August.

The powerless conditions have led to food lines, closed businesses, dead phones, no schools, spoiled food, dirty clothes, dry gas pumps and a multitude of other deleterious effects on life without energy.

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© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

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Tornadoes pummel New York’s Long Island and Delaware capital

First responders also rescued flood-stranded people after storms unleashed heavy rains in the US north-east

Residents in Delaware’s capital and on Long Island, New York, were picking up the pieces on Friday after tornadoes touched down during sudden storms that battered the north-eastern US with heavy rains and left dozens of people stranded in their cars during flash flooding.

In Atlantic Beach on Long Island, the long peninsula that stretches out into the ocean to the east of New York City, images posted on social media showed a large funnel cloud over the water and small buildings torn apart at a beach club.

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© Photograph: @docdondon/Instagram/Reuters

© Photograph: @docdondon/Instagram/Reuters

© Photograph: @docdondon/Instagram/Reuters

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More Wildfires and Extreme Heat Roil Europe, but Relief Is on the Horizon

Another day of near record heat baked the continent on Friday, but temperatures could retreat to seasonal averages in the coming days.

© Miroslav Lelas/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

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How Scientists Use Eclipses for Research

It’s a chance not just to study the sun but also space weather, light pollution and even animal behavior.

© Gemma Miralda/Associated Press

The Gran Telescopio Canarias, at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in the Canaries, Spain.
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