National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Dangerous, prolonged heat is ongoing in the Mid-South to Mid-Mississippi Valley and heat expands into the Northeast for a brief period today. Widely scattered instances of flash flooding due to heavy rains are forecast from northeast Kansas to much of Indiana. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of New England, northern Mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Read More >

The powerful effects of lightning can be seen in the photos below of a residence in Miami County over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.  On average, lightning kills 73 people each year in the United States. Are you familiar with lightning safety rules?

Root damage  Sod exploded from the ground up onto this roof  Lightning superheated the water in the tree, turning it instantly to steam, causing the bark to explode from the tree  Lightning stripped this tree of its bark.  Note the path of the lightning along the roots in the ground  The path of the lightning bolt down the tree