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US Swelters: Wildfires & Floods Loom
10 Aug
Summary
- Dangerous heat and dry conditions fuel wildfire risks across the US.
- Severe thunderstorms may bring heavy rain and flash floods to the East.
- Europe faces its fifth heatwave, increasing wildfire danger.

Much of the United States is facing a dangerous combination of extreme heat and dry conditions this week, heightening the risk of wildfires. In the Northwest, dry weather and gusty winds are expected to fuel existing fires and ignite new ones. Across the Eastern and Central United States, humid air poses a threat of severe thunderstorms, bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and damaging winds.
Meanwhile, Europe is contending with intense heat, marking its fifth heatwave of the year. Countries like Spain and France are seeing temperatures soar, leading to worsened drought conditions and an increased likelihood of wildfires. This extreme heat in Europe coincides with a total solar eclipse passing through the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and Portugal on August 12, 2026.