US weather conditions turned increasingly severe on Friday as wildfire smoke blanketed the eastern United States, catastrophic flooding continued in Texas and new wildfires erupted across the Pacific Northwest. Wana Operation Security Forces Foil Major Terror Plot in South Waziristan Authorities said 68 large wildfires were burning across 15 states, while millions of residents faced health warnings, evacuation concerns and dangerous weather conditions. Wildfires Spread Across the West The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) said firefighters were battling 68 major wildfires after 17 new blazes broke out overnight in the Pacific Northwest following a series of lightning strikes. More than 17,400 firefighters, 140 helicopters and four military C-130 air tanker crews have been deployed to contain the fires. Nearly 3.72 million acres have burned across the United States this year, exceeding the total recorded by mid-July last year by more than one million acres. Officials said drought conditions and record-low snowpack in the Mountain West have created unusually dry vegetation, increasing wildfire risks earlier than normal. Smoke Triggers Air Quality Alerts Smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires covered cities from the Great Lakes to Washington, D.C., reducing visibility and worsening air quality. More than 100 million Americans came under National Weather Service air quality alerts. Authorities advised many residents to limit outdoor activities or remain indoors. Chicago recorded the world’s second-worst air quality on Friday, according to IQAir. Local officials closed parks and beaches along Lake Michigan and moved many public activities indoors. Weather forecasts suggested weekend rainfall could gradually improve air quality across the eastern United States. Texas Battles Flooding for Third Day Meanwhile, central Texas continued to battle severe flash flooding after days of torrential rain. The National Weather Service reported that some parts of the Hill Country received more than 27 inches of rainfall since Tuesday. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that two people died in the flooding. One victim was swept away in an RV near Comfort, while another drove into floodwaters in Uvalde County. Emergency crews have rescued hundreds of people, but officials warned that rivers will continue to rise through the weekend despite improving weather conditions. Scientists Link Extreme Events to Climate Change Climate experts said the combination of wildfire smoke, flooding and persistent heat reflects broader changes in weather patterns. Researchers explained that a warmer atmosphere dries vegetation, increasing wildfire risk, while also holding more moisture that can later fall as intense rainfall. Scientists added that climate change has increased the frequency of prolonged jet stream patterns that can keep extreme weather locked over the same region for extended periods. Post navigation US Defense Bill Senate Democrats Block $1 Trillion Pentagon Measure Over Iran War
