Extreme Weather Hits US: Tropical Storm, Heat Dome, and Toxic Air
The United States is facing a series of extreme weather events, including severe thunderstorms, a heat dome, and lingering toxic wildfire smoke. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for flash flooding across the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions on July 20 and 21, 2026. A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to intensify into Tropical Storm Bertha, bringing heavy rain and wind to areas from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. Meanwhile, a heat wave is affecting the central U.S., with heat indices reaching up to 116°F in some areas. Air quality alerts remain active across the Great Lakes and Midwest due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. 
