US weather: ‘Searing heatwaves’ set to blast America this summer

A ‘summer of heatwaves’ and ‘juiced hurricane season’ will prolong the misery across America as it battles a deadly tornado assault.

Weather Channel spokesman Chris DeWeese said: “Searing heat waves could be a common theme this summer in parts of the United States, and this could make it one of the hottest summers on record.

“The first tropical storm in the Western Hemisphere of the 2024 season could form sometime through this week off the coast of Mexico.

“Parts of the south and the east have been soaked by flooding and rain in recent weeks, and this is adding concern to what is already forecast to be a juiced hurricane season.”

The United States is currently in the grip of a deadly spate of storms which has destroyed buildings and killed several people.

Hundreds of titanic tornadoes since the start of spring have bulldozed almost 2,000 miles of the country.

The latest assault left ‘apocalyptic’ scenes in the Iowa town of Greenfield, tearing up trees, destroying homes and injuring residents.

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A Weather Channel spokesman said: “On Tuesday afternoon, the small town of Greenfield, Iowa was largely ripped apart by a tornado and several people were injured.

“Video taken by drones reveals the tornado took a straight-line path of destruction, while the Iowa State Patrol reported several people injured in the town southwest of Des Moines.

“Multiple people in the small town of 2,000 were killed and the tornado left a swath of destroyed homes, crumpled cars and torn-up trees.”

Debris was hurled 35,000 to 40,000 feet into the air, he said, adding the tornado risk ‘isn’t over yet’.

AccuWeather chief on-air meteorologist Bernie Rayno added: “The damage that we’re seeing out of Greenfield is just heart-breaking and devastating.”

“More than 300 preliminary storm reports were filed, including 20 preliminary reports of tornadoes. We expect that number to grow with more storm damage surveys underway.”

“This has been another devastating tornado outbreak. We’ve had to cover too many of these already this year.”

America’s National Weather Service (NOAA) has extended warnings for severe weather across numerous states.

Gale and flood warnings are in force in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, while coastal flood and winter storm alerts span north-western and central states.

Further south, blistering heat pushing the mercury into the 100Fs threatens a ‘dangerous early season heatwave’, the NOAA warned.

It said: “Across southern Texas, the heat is forecast to gradually intensify through

the next few days, with heat indices possibly topping 110F.

“Residents across southern Florida will also feel the heat getting more oppressive as the week progresses – this is because of increasing humidity under the influence of a high-pressure ridge with fair weather conditions.

“Another rapidly developing low pressure system will bring severe weather and heavy rain threats into Thursday night into Friday morning.”

Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and US weather correspondent said: “Storms will continue through to the end of the week, and there will be a risk of powerful tornadoes, hail and heavy rain.

“With this, there will be an ongoing risk of flooding as these storms continue to move across the country.

“Towards the end of the week, the greatest risk will have moved further northeast.”