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June 18 2024: US heat wave news

By Antoinette Radford, Elise Hammond, Maureen Chowdhury, Aditi Sangal, Mary Gilbert, Eric Zerkel, Elizabeth Wolfe, Ritu Prasad and Christina Zdanowicz, CNN
Updated 7:05 AM EDT, Wed June 19, 2024
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Video shows massive wildfire converging on New Mexico villages
01:01 - Source: CNN

What we covered

  • A dangerous heat wave is scorching parts of the Midwest and Northeast as temperatures in some Western and Southwestern cities have hit triple digits. Record-breaking high temperatures are forecast across dozens of cities where cooling centers have been opened to protect the vulnerable. Track the temperatures here.  
  • Meanwhile, New Mexico authorities said at least one person has died as a pair of fast-growing fires “acting like a pair of tongs” are tearing across the southern part of the state, prompting thousands of residents to evacuate. Follow the fires and impacted areas here.
  • And in the South, torrential downpours are expected to unload over much of the Texas coast, including Houston, into Wednesday morning. The outer bands of Potential Tropical Cyclone One are already lashing southern Texas, where they are set to unleash strong winds, heavy rain and possible flash flooding in some areas.

The CNN Original Series “Violent Earth with Liev Schreiber” explores the harrowing weather events, from hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires, that are increasingly frequent in our changing climate. It airs on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

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Our live coverage of the record-breaking US heat wave has moved here.

First ever excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine

From CNN's Monica Garrett

The first ever excessive heat warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, for portions of its forecast area. 

The weather service warned of dangerously hot conditions Wednesday, with heat index values up to 106 degrees expected.

The excessive heat warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. for southern Piscataquis County and parts of Penobscot County. 

Farther north in Caribou, an all-time record high of 96 degrees could be reached Wednesday afternoon, and the heat index could reach around 104 degrees – eclipsing the previous highest heat index on record there of 101 degrees in 1977.

Climate change is making the high temperatures forecast in Maine at least two times more likely to occur, according to data from Climate Central.

Hot conditions will continue Thursday until a cold front arrives to cool the region Thursday night.

1,400 structures have been lost in the South Fork Fire, New Mexico officials say

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Approximately 1,400 structures have been lost and about 8,000 people have evacuated due to the South Fork Fire burning near Ruidoso, New Mexico, local officials said in an update. 

This is an increase from the 500 damaged structures announced by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham during a briefing Tuesday afternoon. 

The South Fork Fire is now estimated at 15,276 acres and is zero percent contained, according to a New Mexico Forestry update.

Tuesday’s “fire activity included crowning and long-range spotting, which increased the fire’s footprint,” said forestry officials. 

“Response crews were able to directly engage areas of the fire’s footprint when conditions allowed” Tuesday, the forestry update said. 

Heat, wildfires and a brewing storm: How extreme weather is impacting the US coast-to-coast

From CNN staff
A burned car stands in front of a ruined building as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek after mass evacuations of the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico on June 18.
A burned car stands in front of a ruined building as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek after mass evacuations of the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico on June 18.
Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Reuters

Extreme weather stretches from coast to coast Wednesday, including an overbearing heat wave in the East, destructive wildfires in the West and a potential tropical cyclone that can be felt in Texas.

More than 80 million people are under heat alerts Wednesday as a prolonged heat wave bakes the Midwest and Northeast, according to the National Weather Service.

Meantime out West, wildfires in New Mexico and California have torn through buildings and prompted entire communities to evacuate with pets and valuables in tow.

Here’s what you missed overnight:

New Mexico wildfires turn deadly: At least one person has died as two wildfires have prompted thousands of people in southern New Mexico to evacuate, officials said. The blazes have consumed more than 20,000 acres combined.

Firefighting conditions improve: Firefighters battling blazes near Ruidoso, New Mexico, are expected to receive much-needed rain showers lasting from Wednesday afternoon through Friday. In California, where two significant active fires are burning, conditions could also improve as high winds settle down and humidity increases, an analyst said.

Record-breaking heat continues: Another day of dangerous heat is in store after high-temperature records were shattered in several US cities Tuesday. More than 20 daily records are expected to be broken Wednesday. High temperatures in the Midwest, Great Lakes and into the Northeast will remain largely in 90s through the end of the week – and into next week in some places. That’s 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual for mid-June.

Texas feels impact of developing tropical storm: Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and is set to unleash powerful winds, heavy rain and flood threats to South Texas, Mexico and Central America. Texas is already being battered by tropical storm-force winds from the system’s outer bands, which stretch more than 400 miles from its center.

Texas will be slammed by winds and heavy rain as a potential tropical storm simmers in the Gulf

From CNN's Robert Shackelford
A red warning flag whips in the wind along the shoreline near Bob Hall Pier on North Padre Island, an island along the coast of Texas, on Tuesday.
A red warning flag whips in the wind along the shoreline near Bob Hall Pier on North Padre Island, an island along the coast of Texas, on Tuesday.
Katie Nickas/The Corpus Christi Caller/Times/USA Today Network

The outer bands of Potential Tropical Cyclone One are already lashing southern Texas early Wednesday, where they are set to unleash strong winds, heavy rain and possible flash flooding in some areas.

Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and the sprawling storm system has begun battering Texas with tropical storm-force winds, meaning they are gusting between 39-73 mph.

Despite the center of the storm being so far from Texas, tropical storm-force winds extend up to 415 miles to the north of its core. The center is about 335 miles south of Brownsville, Texas, and is creeping northwestward at 7 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass, which is south of Houston, southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande and the northeastern coast of Mexico south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira.

Heavy rainfall is expected across southern Texas on Wednesday and will spread across southwestern Texas by Thursday.

Southern Texas could see rainfall totals of 5-10 inches. This rainfall will move into New Mexico on Thursday and will last until Friday. 

Wednesday could bring more record-shattering high temperatures

From CNN's Robert Shackelford

A heat wave continues to impact parts of the Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast, bringing temperatures well into the 90s and shattering high-temperature records across parts of the East.

After a record-breaking day on Tuesday, more than 20 daily records are expected to be broken on Wednesday.

Detroit, which typically averages 81 degrees this time of year, could reach 95 degrees on Wednesday. That would tie their daily record set in 2012.

Buffalo, which averages 76 degrees this time of year, could see a high of 92 degrees. That would break their daily record of 90 degrees set in 2001.

Several cities will also bake under consecutive days of above 90-degree heat, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

New Mexico couple fled their home as ash fell from the sky. Then they spent the night in a shelter

From CNN's Taylor Galgano

Kay Bymark and her husband fled their home Monday as ash from the nearby South Fork Fire fell over Alto, New Mexico. Though they were able to spend the night in an evacuation shelter, sleep was hard to come by.

Alto is among several communities that have been ordered to evacuate as the South Fork Fire has ripped through nearly 14,000 acres and was 0% contained early Tuesday.

Bymark, 79, first noticed ash and charred twigs falling from the sky around midday Monday when she saw a “huge, billowing gray cloud” above her country club’s pool, she told CNN. The couple’s concern only grew as the hours passed.

Soon, the couple lost cell service and wifi. Cut off from the outside world, Bymark’s husband went to scope out their street, and found that they seemed to be the last people left in the neighborhood, which was “very very scary.” 

After winding through traffic to evacuate, they were turned away at three full hotels in the city of Roswell before finding a place to stay at an emergency shelter.

“Over the night, people just kept on streaming in,” said Bymark. “People had their animals. I mean, cats were meowing and dogs were barking and panting and whining. We really never slept.”

In the morning, the couple headed to Austin, Texas, to stay at their second home in the Texas capital.

California's Sites Fire jumps to more than 15,000 acres

From CNN's Taylor Romine

The Sites Fire in northern California’s Colusa County has swallowed up 15,565 acres as of Tuesday evening, up from 10,000 acres reported around noon, according to Cal Fire.

More than 600 personnel are battling the blaze, which is only about 15% contained, Cal Fire spokesperson Lucas Spelman said during a Tuesday evening briefing.

Further south, the Point Fire in Sonoma County is holding at 1,207 acres and is 40% contained. More than 1,000 personnel are assisting with firefighting efforts.

Firefighting conditions should improve soon as high winds that have been driving the fires are expected to begin decreasing and humidity should increase, according to Fire Behavior Analyst Johnathan Pangburn with Cal Fire. The improved weather should be more beneficial for the Point Fire, which is closer to the ocean.

Air in the area will remain stagnant in the region, however, so air quality might not improve over the next couple of days, Pangburn said. 

People rush to rescue dozens of horses from New Mexico race track as fires crawl closer

From CNN's Sharif Paget
Horses are rescued at Ruidoso Downs track on Tuesday.
Horses are rescued at Ruidoso Downs track on Tuesday.
Courtesy Justyn Brynn

The Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Tuesday buzzed with people from New Mexico – and some from Texas – hurrying to evacuate dozens of horses as a nearby wildfire filled the sky with smoke.

Justyn Brynn, who runs a racehorse rehabilitation center and equestrian vacation business, said she helped rescue three trailers full of horses after the community of Ruidoso Downs was ordered to evacuate Tuesday evening.

Brynn got the 10 horses to safety in the city of Roswell, which has established emergency boarding centers for horses and livestock. “Horses and helping is what we do,” she said.

Rainfall over the next 3 days could help firefighters battling blaze in New Mexico

From CNN's Robert Shackelford

Firefighters battling the South Fork Fire near Ruidoso, New Mexico, may get some assistance from much-needed rainfall beginning Wednesday afternoon.

While no rain is in the forecast overnight Tuesday, the National Weather Service expects scattered showers and storms to begin to impact the area after 3 p.m. on Wednesday and increase throughout the night.

More significant rainfall is expected on Thursday and lasting into Friday as remnant moisture associated with a potential tropical cyclone developing in the Gulf of Mexico will move through the region. Between 1-3 inches of rain could fall around Ruidoso and rainfall rates could exceed one inch per hour.

Heavy rainfall rates can help with fire relief but can also cause flash flooding and debris flow over recent burn scars. 

At least 1 death has been confirmed during the active wildfires in New Mexico

From CNN’s Jillian Sykes

At least one person has died as two active wildfires continue to burn in New Mexico, officials said.

New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management & Fire Marshal’s Office told CNN they received reports of one fatality.

At this time, officials have no other information.

California's Post Fire remains within containment lines, authorities say

From CNN's Taylor Romine

The Post Fire in Southern California is keeping within the containment lines as firefighters reinforce the boundaries, but there is still some difficulty getting into some areas, officials with CAL Fire said in a video update Tuesday.

Crews made some progress reining in the fire by Tuesday afternoon. The blaze has burned through 15,690 acres and went from 20% to 31% containment throughout the day, according to Cal Fire data.

There has been no progression on the eastern side of the fire close to Interstate 5, and crews continue to work in the area to make sure nothing flares up, said CAL Fire Operations Section Chief Landon Hack. 

The southern area of the fire near Pyramid Lake is difficult to access due to steep terrain, and crews are trying different methods like crossing the lake or flying in to get access to these areas, said Operations Section Chief Trainee Kristian Litz. 

Crews are spending a lot of time in forest and wilderness areas trying to keep that intact, he said.

Cal Fire Captain Marco Rodriguez told CNN earlier that the fire may get worse with the expected weekend heat.

CNN’s Laura Studley contributed to the report.

The post was updated with the latest details on the percentage of the fire that is contained.

"The explosions were incredible." Video shows Alto, New Mexico, lit up in flames

From CNN's Taylor Galgano

As flames from the South Fork Fire consumed the landscape of Alto, New Mexico – around 8 miles north of Ruidoso – on Monday night, a 66-year-old man tried to quell hot spots near his vacation home for over four hours.

The man, who did not want to be named, said he strung together 300-foot hoses to spray areas around his and his next-door neighbors’ houses and was able to keep them safe at the time.

The ski shop seen on fire in Alto
The ski shop seen on fire in Alto
Anonymous

His videos from that night show the Eagle Creek canyon on fire and a nearby house and ski shop engulfed in flames.

A home in Alto seen in flames
A home in Alto seen in flames
Anonymous

He evacuated the area at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when the water finally ran out and he couldn’t put out any more hot spots.

Now, he fears his house could be damaged as the winds and fires continue.

At least 2 people injured in New Mexico wildfires, governor says

From CNN’s Jillian Sykes

At least two people have been injured during the active wildfires in New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said during a Tuesday press conference. She said they were treated and their injuries were non-life threatening.

On Monday evening, firefighters and first responders successfully evacuated seven patients from a local hospital in Ruidoso and 17 residents from an assisted living facility, according to the governor. That’s in addition to the roughly 5,000 residents in evacuation zones, she added.

Many communities near the fires in Lincoln County experienced loss of power and cell service yesterday, but Grisham said most of that has since been restored.

Laura McCarthy, a state forester at the New Mexico Forestry Division, expressed concern over the change in weather conditions.

At least 500 structures have already been damaged by the wildfires, according to Grisham. 

McCarthy said the weather shift is due to a back-door cold front that could also bring moisture into the area by Thursday.

“It’s both bad news and good news. It also means that this fire is going to be dynamic,” she said.

Daily records for high temperatures set in towns from New Hampshire to Ohio

From CNN's Taylor Ward

High temperatures around the Midwest, Great Lakes and into the Northeast were largely in the low 90s on Tuesday — 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual for mid-June.

A few locations from Ohio to New Hampshire set daily records.

Here’s a look at some of them:

  • Manchester, New Hampshire, reached 97 degrees. The old record for June 18 was 94 degrees in 1967.
  • Scranton, Pennsylvania, hit 94 degrees, beating the old record of 93 degrees in 2018
  • The high was 93 degrees in Mansfield, Ohio. That’s tied for the old record in 1994.
  • Elkins, West Virginia, saw a high of 92 degrees. The old record in 1994 was 91 degrees.
  • Dubois, Pennsylvania, also hit 92 degrees, beating the old record of 89 degrees in 2018.
  • Altoona, Pennsylvania’s high was 92 degrees. That’s tied for the high in 1994.
  • Bradford, Pennsylvania, reached up to 90 degrees today, hotter than 87 degrees in 1993.

The heat will continue on Wednesday and temperatures will even tick up a few degrees in spots, especially in New England. More than 20 daily records could be broken, from Detroit and Cleveland to Caribou, Maine.  

Caribou is expected to reach 96 degrees which would tie their hottest temperature for any date. They have reached 96 only three times — with the most recent being June 19, 2020. 

New Mexico village facing 2 wildfires was a filming location this year for a movie – about a wildfire

From CNN's Ritu Prasad

In a strange twist of fate, Ruidoso, the picturesque New Mexico town now facing two converging wildfires, was a filming location earlier this year for a movie about California’s deadliest blaze.

From April 1 to 7, the town played host to production crews for “The Lost Bus”: A “dramatic thriller” set during 2018’s Camp Fire, told from the perspective of a heroic bus driver, played by Matthew McConaughey, and a schoolteacher, played by America Ferrera, the New Mexico Film Office said on Instagram.

Some background: The Camp Fire killed 85 people. The blaze also destroyed almost 13,972 homes, 528 businesses and 4,293 other buildings in the two and a half weeks it blazed around the town of Paradise.

Evacuation order issued for another New Mexico town due to spreading wildfire

From CNN's Ed Lavandera, Ashley Killough and Fabiana Chaparro

The City of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, is under an evacuation order due to the Salt Fire, according to a post on the city’s Facebook page.

Ruidoso Downs is an incorporated community east of the Village of Ruidoso, the town that was evacuated Monday night. 

It is not immediately clear if this evacuation covers the entire population of the town. CNN has reached out to the city and Lincoln County officials. According to the Ruidoso Downs Fire Department website, it serves around 3,000 people.

MTA to reduce some train speeds during prolonged heat wave in New York City

From CNN’s Lauren Rapp

As heat advisories go into effect across New York, North America’s largest public transportation agency is bracing for vulnerabilities. 

Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Tuesday they are reducing the speeds of some trains during the prolonged heat. 

The trains with reduced speeds include railroads, Metro North and the Long Island Railroad. Railroads are vulnerable to extreme heat, causing tracks to buckle, according to MTA construction and development president Jamie Torres-Springer. 

All buses, subways, and railroad cars are equipped with air conditioning, according to transit officials.

Tropical storm warning extended northward along the Texas coast with heavy rain and winds to come

From CNN’s Taylor Ward

The National Hurricane Center extended the tropical storm warning northward in Texas to San Luis Pass, according to the 5 p.m. advisory on Potential Tropical Cyclone One.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast from San Luis Pass, which is south of Houston, southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande and the northeastern coast of Mexico south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira.

The center of the system continues to be large and broad but is expected to consolidate over the next 24 hours, becoming Tropical Storm Alberto.

Tropical storm-force winds will reach the coast well in advance of the center and as the storm pushes onshore Wednesday night, the strongest winds and heaviest rain will extend well into Texas, despite the center making landfall in Mexico.

The system will be slow to intensify because of how large it is. This means rainfall and flooding are likely to be the biggest concerns over the next 48 hours. Portions of southern Texas and northern Mexico are likely to receive 5 to 10 inches of rainfall, with isolated totals up to 15 inches.

New Mexico's environmental conditions are creating a challenge in battling wildfires, governor says

From CNN's Elise Hammond
Smoke rises as the South Fork Fire continues to burn in northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, on June 18.
Smoke rises as the South Fork Fire continues to burn in northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, on June 18.
Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Reuters

New Mexico’s environmental and weather conditions are making it difficult to fight fires that are raging in the state, the governor said on Tuesday.

In a state of emergency declaration earlier today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the South Fork and Salt wildfires have burned about 20,000 acres and are currently 0% contained.

Aridification refers to a change of a region into a drier climate — unlike a drought which could be temporary, according to scientists.

The governor said between federal and state resources she has requested, “it’s never enough.” What is more important is the pace at which officials can use the money, she added.

“The important thing is to be able to get money out immediately, to stand up shelters, to support the victims of this fire, to support the personnel and to pay for personnel and get them on the line of fire to fight the fire and to prevent it from taking any more structures and homes,” Grisham said.

She said there is a “long way to go” before the state can accomplish that, but added the Biden administration has been quick to respond. The governor also said she expects state officials will have more information about how the fires have affected communities after the Federal Emergency Management Agency completes satellite imaging.