Severe weather put the brakes on the world’s fastest motorsport competitors over the weekend, but NASCAR finally made its debut in Chicago on Sunday after an overnight rain delay.
The NASCAR Cup started late on Sunday after a delayed start on Saturday due to heavy rain. The delay continued into the afternoon, when darkness was approaching and the event was cut short.
On Sunday night, Australian supercar champion New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen became the first driver in more than half a century to win a NASCAR debut.
“It was so cool,” he said after the race. “This is what you dream about. I hope you can come here and do more.”
Chicago wasn’t alone. Severe weather hit large swaths of the United States, from New York to Pennsylvania to Arkansas.
Kentucky and Tennessee reported sporadic showers, and the storm line was expected to shift into the Appalachians overnight.
A 33-year-old woman died after a tree fell on her car in bad weather in St. Louis, Missouri, police said.
Flooding was reported in Clinton County, New York.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said rain over the past 12 hours had created dangerous conditions in some areas.
“I am closely monitoring the situation and have instructed my team to assist local authorities if necessary,” Ho-chol said in a statement on Sunday.
The storm system will target the Carolina and mid-Atlantic regions on Monday, affecting 29 million people in Philadelphia. Baltimore; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. A damaging wind, severe hail, and a tornado or two are possible.
Sporadic showers and temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s are expected in the northeast and southeast as the 4th of July holiday approaches.
The Midwest and Rocky Mountains can get some rain, but the West will be sunny and dry with temperatures between 70 and 100 degrees.
Heat wave warnings are issued across the country
About 63 million people, including those in Raleigh, remain under heat warnings on Sunday afternoon. Charlotte. Atlanta; Tallahassee, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama. New Orleans; and Corpus Christi, Texas. Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Bakersfield and Sacramento, California. and Portland, Oregon.
Excessive heat warnings have been issued for the Mojave, Maricopa, Yuma and eight other Arizona counties.
More than 30 records were threatened on Sunday in eight state cities, Tucson and Phoenix. Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida. Fresno and Palm Springs, California. New Orleans; and Asheville, North Carolina.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport hit a record high of 115 degrees Celsius this year, according to the National Weather Service.
The Las Vegas Bureau of Meteorology said Friday’s high of 100 degrees Celsius to Sunday’s high of 110 degrees Celsius was the shortest time since 1955 for triple-digit highs to rise by 10 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures hit 110 degrees Celsius at Tucson International Airport on Sunday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Monday is expected to be even hotter.
California’s Death Valley National Park reached at least 119 degrees Celsius on Sunday, though an official maximum temperature has yet to be announced and could hit 123 degrees, the weather bureau said.
Temperatures hit 100 degrees Celsius in Tallahassee on Saturday, tying the record set in 1990, according to the news agency. National Weather Service. A heat warning was in effect for New Orleans on Sunday.
“The heat index is expected to reach 110.” wether service 2EETHen. “Take measures against the heat and take care of yourself!”
The heat warning will remain in place through Tuesday as afternoon highs hit 100-120 degrees Celsius in the west. Temperatures are expected to be near or below normal for parts of California and Arizona later in the week.
Officials have recorded 18 heat-related deaths in the United States since June 18, including 11 in Webb County, Texas and two in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
