June 18 2024: US heat wave news

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

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

“We hope we can go back and get more. We were only able to get 10 out,” Brynn told CNN. “People from all over the state and even Texas showed up to help. The barn we were working with had 40 or so horses to move."

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.