Tourists flocked to China’s scenic Flaming Mountains this week to experience searing high temperatures amid punishing heat waves that have scorched much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Armed with broad-brimmed hats and umbrellas for added protection, tourists took selfies by a 12-meter (6.5 feet_-tall thermometer that displayed a real-time surface temperature of 80 Celsius (176 Fahrenheit), Chinese state television showed on Wednesday.

Each summer, curious tourists gather at the Flaming Mountains on the northern rim of the Turpan Depression of China’s Xinjiang region to admire their corrugated slopes of brown-red sandstone and feel the super-charged heat emanating from the ground.

In recent days, temperatures in Xinjiang and other parts of Asia, as well as Europe and the United States have shattered records, adding new urgency for nations around the globe to tackle climate change that scientists say will make heatwaves more frequent, severe and lethal.

On Sunday, a remote township in the Turpan Depression registered a maximum temperature of 52.2C, smashing China’s national record of 50.3C that was also set in the basin in 2015.

On that day, the oasis city of Turpan west of the Flaming Mountains recorded temperatures at 31 local weather stations above 45C, with the maximum at five of them breaking above 50C, according to state media on Wednesday.

Farmers in Xinjiang, one of the world’s biggest producers of cotton, have been told to step up watering and irrigation to prevent their crops from withering in the scorching sun.

On Tuesday, Beijing logged its 27th day of temperatures of more than 35C, setting a new record for the most number of high-temperature days in a year. The Chinese capital’s previous record was 26 days, set in 2000.

The sweltering heat is occurring as envoys from China and the United States – the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters – have been holding intense, marathon talks in Beijing this week on fighting climate change.

Some 40 kilometers south of the Rwandan capital of Kigali in the Bugesera District, construction vehicles and high-visibility vests swarm across an arid expanse of land.

Here, two strips of tarmac are the cornerstone of a $2 billion airport, whose developers want it to be the jewel in the crown of Africa’s aviation industry.

Slated for completion in 2026, the new facility will boast a 130,000-square-meter main terminal building capable of accommodating 8 million passengers a year, a figure expected to rise to over 14 million in the following decades. Adjacent will be a dedicated cargo terminal, capable of accommodating 150,000 tons of cargo a year.

It’s a significant upgrade on the existing Kigali International Airport, which is set to remain operational for special arrivals, some chartered flights, and a pilot training school.

Pre-pandemic, the airport was shuttling close to 1 million passengers annually, but its geographic limitations – perched on top of a small hill and surrounded by human settlements – meant a move was necessary to allow expansion.

“I’m amazed, it’s like a dream come true to see the impact and magnitude of this project to the population,” said Jules Ndenga, CEO of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding, the Rwandan government-owned company that is overseeing construction.

“We are really impassioned to see the efforts completed and starting operations.”

Qatar Airways will have a 60% ownership of the new airport. The Middle Eastern airline will also acquire 49% of shares in the African country’s flag carrier airline, Rwandair, offering access to over 65 locations around the world.

It is a partnership that intended to help Rwanda – landlocked in the center of Africa – achieve its aim of becoming the continent’s centerpiece for air travel. “The main objective of this effort is basically to make sure that Rwanda becomes an African hub where everyone will be transiting either for tourism, but also for business and different industries,” Ndenga added.

“The impact will be in terms of providing a platform for all the economic life of the country to develop sustainability. We see that as not only an impact on the economy but in the neighborhood … we know that this area will become a satellite city of the city center.”

Connection complications

Yet benefits could spread far beyond Rwanda’s borders. The arrival of the new airport will help chip away at the critical problem of a fragmented network of routes that means passengers often have to travel via Europe or the Middle East when flying between African countries.

A lack of connections across the continent is grounding Africa’s untapped potential in the aviation business. Despite boasting 16.75% of the world’s population with 1.4 billion people, the continent has less than 4% of the global air market, according to a 2018 report by the Single African Air Transport Market – an initiative set up by the African Union.

For RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the problem of connectivity presents the “biggest challenge” to the African aviation industry.

“The continent is huge, it’s vast, but it’s difficult and unpredictable traveling within it … and it’s extremely expensive,” Makolo said.

“What what’s making it more challenging is the conditions of operating within the African continent. The cost of operations is so much more, whether it’s airport fees, whether it’s ground handling, parking, overflight (flying from one country’s airspace to another’s) – everything is much more expensive. Sometimes up to 50% more than in the Middle East and Europe, which makes the ticket prices even more expensive and makes (some) routes unviable.”

Solutions

But solutions are touching down, starting with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

First proposed in 2018, if implemented the policy would create a single market for African aviation, facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services. The continent currently operates under bilateral air service agreements, a highly restrictive policy that makes it difficult to open new routes.

So far, just 35 of the 55 African states have signed up for SAATM. Secretary General of the African Airlines Association Abderahmane Berthe, heavily involved in the policy’s implementation, believes more will follow.

“Since 2018 all the stakeholders of the industry are working to make it happen,” Berthe said.

“Liberalization is not an easy subject – even in other regions, it took a lot of time. So, we are working on it. What is missing is the willingness of states to really implement it.”

A new single market would dovetail with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Coming into force in 2021, AfCFTA eliminates tariffs and other non-tariff barriers to allow easier movement of trade and people between the continent’s countries.

It is set to increase intra-African trade to an estimated 52%, according to Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka, who plans to work with other African airlines – such as South African Airways – to unite a “fragmented” industry.

“We have so many airlines in the continent. Most of them are not viable, truth be told,” Kilavuka said.

“We need to consolidate, so that you create bigger entities which are more economical from a scale perspective, and they can respond to high costs. They can together talk to suppliers and get more bargains when it comes to purchases, bringing down the unit cost of operation. Because of scale, they can then open up the African continent a lot more.

“The fragmented state which we are in is not going to make it.”

They were originally looking for a vacation home, but Alan Andrew, originally from Pennsylvania, and his Belgian husband Vincent Proost found themselves relocating to Portugal full time after purchasing an abandoned farmhouse in the region of Alentejo.

The couple, who met on a blind date in London in 2006, had been living in the UK together for around two decades when they began searching for a new home in Europe.

While neither had spent much time in Portugal previously, Proost, an interior designer, felt it might be the right place for them and suggested that they spend some time exploring the country together.

After traveling around the country for a few months, they fell in love with Alentejo, which is situated in southern Portugal, around 190 kilometers (118 miles) from capital Lisbon, and decided to look for a house there.

Adventurous project

“Every direction has a beautiful view,” adds Andrew, who works as an educational psychologist. “For me, it’s like a blend of the African Savanna and Tuscany.”

They had viewed around 80 properties in the area, before they came across a crumbling farmhouse located in the rural village of Figueira e Barros.

But it soon became clear that it would be impossible to salvage the house, and this was about to become a much bigger project than they’d intended.

“It had been sort of left for about 50 years,” explains Andrew. “So the roof was completely gone.

“It was just crumbling. We knew it was going to have to be a build from the ground up.”

They realized that they’d have to move to Portugal permanently in order to immerse themselves in the build, and fully commit to running a farm.

“It suddenly became a project,” says Proost. “And I was like, ‘Okay, let’s move.’ And then we did.

“We built the house from scratch just before the pandemic, which was quite an adventure.”

After purchasing the property in the summer of 2019, they officially relocated to Portugal, renting a house nearby while finalizing the sale and going through the process of obtaining residency.

The pair also started meeting with architects and builders to put together plans for their new home before beginning the build.

They decided to first renovate the barn on the property into a “pool house” so that they could live there while work was taking place.

New beginnings

But just as things began to get underway, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Countless countries around the world, including Portugal, went into lockdown, and the couple, who had been asked to move out of their rented home, found themselves with nowhere to go.

“All the hotels were closed,” explains Proost. “So we had to sleep in a tent for two weeks.”

They were eventually able to stay in the barn, albeit without electricity initially, while waiting for the renovation work to commence.

Thankfully, the barn was completed within a few months and they continued to live there while work on the main house took place. The original farmhouse was knocked down in September 2020.

“For a long time, we really couldn’t leave our village area,” says Andrew. “And we had just moved here, so we didn’t know anyone.

“It was pretty much the two of us 24/7 on the farm. In some ways it was great, because we had a lot of work to do in the fields.”

The couple’s land encompasses 175 acres and includes around 1,500 olive trees, which needed to be pruned. They also had animals to attend to.

“It’s such a big outdoor space,” says Andrew. “It’s always socially-distanced here.”

Construction work on their house slowed down significantly due to the Covid restrictions, and the couple were forced to adjust their expectations.

“The build was supposed to last a year,” says Proost. “We just finished, which is almost three years. So it was a bit longer than originally planned.”

Modern farmhouse

The house, which they’ve named Casa Baio, has a solar water heating system and is also fitted with solar electricity panels.

“It’s very well insulated,” adds Andrew. “In the old traditional houses, the windows are tiny because of the weather and now because of technology, we’re able to put in bigger windows.”

They had to adhere to various regulations and liaise with local authorities to ensure that the house met the specified requirements, particularly with regards to height and building locations.

“We couldn’t build more than two floors,” explains Proost.

Although they describe Casa Baio as a “modern farmhouse,” they say they’ve tried to incorporate as many traditional local materials, including handmade terracotta tiles, along with floor tiles made from local marble, as possible.

The main house has five bedrooms and an outdoor swimming pool, while the pool house has a studio bedroom with a kitchenette.

They declined to disclose the amount they spent on the build.

Proost says his favorite thing about the house, which measures around 800 square meters, is the views.

“We bought the property for the views and the quietness and tranquility,” he says, adding that he particularly enjoys looking out at the sunsets from their huge windows.

“It’s one floor, so there’s no upstairs. Everything is quite flat. And it’s brown. It blends in with the lands. You don’t see it.”

The only part of the original house that could be saved was the gate.

Now happily settled in Portugal, the couple spend much of their spare time tending to their animals, including chickens and sheep, and working on their olive fields.

“Neither of us had any clue about the farming aspect at all,” adds Andrew. “So we were lucky that we met a Portuguese oil farmer, who’s been a kind of a mentor to teach us how to do it.”

They also produce their own organic oil, which has won prizes in various competitions, including the London International Olive Oil Competitions.

Andrew and Proost say they try to use regenerative organic practices on the farm, which is certified organic.

“All that we had to learn on the spot,” says Andrew. “We had no clue. It’s been a great adventure in that way.

“Just kind of learning something completely new. You couldn’t get any different from London. It’s the direct opposite.”

Change of pace

Now their house is complete and they’ve gotten to know the area, the pair feel very much at home in Figueira e Barros, and have been welcomed with open arms by the locals.

“The Portuguese are extremely open,” says Andrew. “Two gay men living in a farm in rural Portugal – not a problem.

“They seem to really want people to come here. They appreciate people who are investing in the country and trying to take care of these old farms that are just kind of going to ruin.”

They’re currently running Casa Baio as a bed and breakfast, with four of their en suite bedrooms available to book for a two-night stay minimum.

They pair have become friends with many locals – Andrew is a member of the local running club – as well as other expats who’ve relocated to Portugal.

“As soon as we bought the place, all the neighbors invited us for dinner,” says Proost. “The people are just wonderful.”

However, they admit that it’s taken some time to adjust to the change of pace, explaining that things seem to move much slower in the Alentejo region.

“Everyone has time here,” says Andrew. “If you’re in the supermarket and you’re standing in line, it’s quite usual for the cashier to have a 10-minute conversation with the person in front of you – and no one minds – you just kind of wait in line. That’s just the way it is.”

The nearest city, Estremoz, is 30 minutes or so away by car.

Portugal has become a popular destination for US citizens looking for a new life in recent years.

According to government data, the number of Americans living in Portugal increased 45% in 2021 from the previous year.

Andrew and Proost say they’ve definitely noticed an increase in the amount of people from the US relocating to Portugal, particularly in Alentejo.

“It’s a region that’s not so discovered, but it’s becoming [more] discovered now,” says Andrew.

“There are a lot of Americans who are coming to this area from the west coast of California, because it’s a very similar climate to California.

He goes on to point out that there was very little development in the region for years, so “there are no overly developed areas.”

“It was probably the poorest region in Portugal for a long time, and because of that, there was no development happening,” he adds. “It’s just really authentic Portuguese villages.”

Andrew explains that Portugal’s “golden visa” system, a five-year residence by investment program aimed at non-EU nationals, has “attracted a lot of people.”

“A lot of them came initially to Porto or Lisbon, the big cities,” he explains. “But they’ve stopped the golden visa in those places, because it was getting too out of hand.

“So now, people are coming more towards the interior of the country.”

Aside from the climate, he believes that the relatively low crime rate in the country – Prime Minister Antonio Costa has described Portugal as “one of the safest countries in the world,” the “affordable” cost of living and the friendliness of the people, are its biggest selling points.

“The people really make the place,” says Andrew. “It’s a very welcoming place. And I think because the population of the country is declining, they’re really pro-immigration.

Big changes

“There are so many great things about Portugal. They [the Portuguese] don’t really sell it at all. They’re very humble.”

While the couple had hoped to remain living in their new home for the foreseeable future, they recently received some news that has forced them to rethink things completely.

Andrew has been diagnosed with ARVD/C, a rare heart disease that can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest or death.

Due to the nature of his condition, he’s had to limit the level of physical activity he participates in, which rules him out for much of the manual work needed to keep their farm running.

“We’re going to put the house on the market,” Andrew explains. “Because it’s too much.

“I could hire someone to do the work, but I’m not the kind of person who wants to sit around telling people what to do. I want to actually be doing the work.

“It’s one of those things. I’ve never had any health issues. And then suddenly… It’s really changing everything.”

Although they’re undeniably disappointed at the prospect of having to sell up and abandon the life they’ve cultivated in Portugal, both say they have absolutely no regrets, and are looking forward to their next adventure.

The couple are constantly asked for advice from other travelers who are keen to start a new life in either Portugal, or another country, and say they always encourage people to take the leap.

“Go for it,” says Andrew. “Life is short, we don’t know what’s going to happen around the corner.

“But also have your eyes open. And when you go into a new place, don’t expect things to be the way they were in the US, or wherever you’re coming from.

“Be open to the differences. Try to find ways of adapting and not expecting things to adapt to you. Because why should they?”

Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai retired from a match in tears after a tense incident with Amarissa Toth at the Hungarian Grand Prix saw Toth use her foot to erase a contested ball mark from the court.

In Tuesday’s opening set, Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line, with a line judge and later an umpire calling the ball out.

Though the match continued for another point, the disputed call remained a sore point, and Zhang continued to question the decision.

As Zhang, ranked 28th, pleaded for the decision to be reconsidered, Toth walked up to the mark on the court and rubbed it away with her foot, video shows.

Zhang can be heard questioning Toth on her actions, asking “What are you doing?” as the Hungarian player walks away.

Video shows the stressed Zhang asking, “Why did you do that?” as Toth retorts, “You’re making problems.”

A tearful Zhang opted to retire from the match, where she was trailing 6-5 in the opening set. Zhang later posted a video of the incident to her social media, thanking those who have supported her.

A number of tennis players decried Toth’s actions, with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović criticizing Toth’s actions as “absolutely disgusting behaviour.”

“Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand,” Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka tweeted that the actions by Toth were “another level of unsportsmanlike conduct … Just wow.”

Meanwhile, Australian Ellen Perez called out “the level of disrespect” and adding, “Well that’s a quick way to lose respect from your peers.”

Herman dismissed her complaint without prejudice “pending the resolution” of her appeal in a more recent complaint, aimed at nullifying an NDA, that she said required “confidential arbitration in all disputes between” Herman and Woods.

The NDA was signed in August 2017 according to the court filing, but Herman believes it is “invalid and unenforceable.”

In the NDA case, Herman is still waiting on the court’s determination of whether her claims are subject to compelled arbitration, court records show.

The October filing had alleged that Woods’ Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust unlawfully brought Herman’s tenancy at the couple’s property on the Hobe Sound, Florida, to an end.

Specifically, the lawsuit claimed “agents of the Defendant” told Herman “to pack a suitcase for a short vacation” before revealing to her that she had been locked out of the house on arrival at the airport. It claims lawyers for the trust were on hand to “confront” Herman with “proposals to resolve the wrongdoing they were in the midst of committing.”

The legal filing states, “the Defendant (Woods and his trust) elected to engage in ‘prohibited practices,’ i.e., self-help, causing … severe emotional damages to the Plaintiff. The prohibited practices were done intentionally, with premeditation, and with malice aforethought.”

There have been a total of eight previous editions of the Women’s World Cup, but this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand promises to look very different.

Since its inauguration in 1991, the competition has grown alongside the development of the women’s game which has seen a surge of popularity in recent years.

1. Co-hosts

This year will be the first time the Women’s World Cup will be hosted by two federations, New Zealand and Australia.

The games will be spread across 10 stadiums in nine different cities, with teams having to travel around to play their matches.

The five Australian cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth – will host 35 games, while the four New Zealand cities – Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin – will host 29.

Auckland’s Eden Park will host the opening game between New Zealand and Norway on July 20 and Sydney’s Stadium Australia will welcome crowds for the final on August 20.

Both countries have a rich sporting history but neither side have ever won the tournament, which has been dominated by the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) – two-time defending champion and winner of four of the eight previous editions.

It will also be the first tournament held in the southern hemisphere, which may give the two host teams an advantage.

However, don’t be expecting the searing heat that Australia is famous for. It’s winter time in that part of the world and the weather is expected to be cool but comfortable – from the mid 50s to mid 70s Fahrenheit (low teens to mid 20s Celsius) – with rain expected, especially in matches held in New Zealand.

2. Largest tournament ever

For the first time, a total of 32 teams will vie for this year’s prize – the most countries to ever compete at the tournament.

The very first tournament held by China in 1991 only included 12 teams but that was soon expanded to 16 teams in 1999.

Organizers again grew the tournament in 2015 as 24 teams participated in the search for football’s biggest prize. But this year’s event will mirror the format used in the men’s World Cup for the first time.

The 32 nations have been divided into eight groups of four, with the top two of each going through to the knockout stages.

The extra games will allow more fans to watch the games and FIFA has said the tournament is on track to be the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history.

FIFA confirmed that almost 1.4 million tickets had been sold for this year’s matches, already surpassing the 1,353,506 spectators who watched the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

“The future is women – and thanks to the fans for supporting what will be the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters last month.

“The momentum is building in the host countries and across the globe, and I look forward to seeing you there to witness the stars of women’s football shine on the world stage.”

Attendance records are also expected to be broken on the opening day.

Both host countries, New Zealand and Australia, are set to break their own national attendance records for women’s football games when they compete against Norway and Republic of Ireland respectively.

3. Eight debutants

The bumper number of teams also means space for eight nations who have never made an appearance at a World Cup finals before.

Haiti, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam and Zambia will all make their debut later this month, breathing new life into the competition.

World No. 77 Zambia is the lowest-ranked team in the tournament and its achievement of reaching the finals has been rewarded with group games against Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan women’s team has continued the incredible rise of football in the country.

The Atlas Lionesses reached the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations last year – a tournament hosted in the country – before being beaten by South Africa.

It comes as the men’s side reached the semifinals at Qatar 2022 – the first African nation to do so.

Haiti, ranked 53rd in the world, is another debutant which will be looking to upset the odds in Australia and New Zealand.

The country may not be known for its footballing prowess, but the women’s team does include one of the most exciting young players in the world.

Melchie Dumornay, 19, recently signed for Olympique Lyonnais – one of the best women’s teams in Europe – and is set to make an impact on the international stage.

“Having Melchie is key. She gives us the X factor,” Haiti coach Nicolas Delepine told FIFA+.

“When there’s not much at all between teams, you’re looking for her to do something.”

While the new additions can be seen as progress for the tournament, there are fears that it could lead to some one-sided matches.

In the 2019 edition, the USWNT beat Thailand 13-0 in a match which sparked debate over the disparity between nations – with some countries struggling to find resources to compete with the sport’s powerhouses.

All eyes will be on this year’s minnows who will be hoping to avoid such embarrassment on the global stage.

4. Historic payments

This year’s prize pot for the tournament will increase to $110 million – a nearly three-fold increase from 2019 and seven times more than in 2015 – and the 2023 edition will see every player at the Women’s World Cup receive compensation from FIFA.

The new payment model will see participants receive a set amount of money depending on how deep their team progresses into the tournament.

All players will receive $30,000 for qualifying for the group stages, with that amount doubled for those that make it into the Round of 16.

The amount rises at every level until the winners of the World Cup take home $270,000 each.

“Under this unprecedented new distribution model, each individual player at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 can now fully rely on remuneration for their efforts as they progress through the tournament,” Infantino said.

“The global salary of women’s professional footballers is approximately $14,000 annually so the amounts allocated under this unprecedented new distribution model will have a real and meaningful impact on the lives and careers of these players.”

The payments will also extend to the teams, with national federations all receiving $1,560,000 for reaching the group stage.

The reward will rise throughout the tournament with the eventual champion taking home $4,290,000.

FIFPRO says it wants the new model to be a sign of things to come for women’s football.

“The key behind the success of this model is that it is universally applied, and it is fair, which is what female footballers tell us they want above all else,” FIFPRO President David Aganzo said.

“We see this is as only the beginning of what will be a transformational journey for the women’s professional football landscape together with FIFA.”

Tropical Storm Calvin was bringing heavy rain to Hawaii’s Big Island on Wednesday.

Packing winds of 45 mph, Calvin was about 205 miles southwest of Hilo on Wednesday morning, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center.

Calvin is forecast to pass south of Hawaii County tonight, bringing a period of flash flooding, dangerous surf and damaging winds. Calvin is expected to weaken as it moves westward to the south of the other Hawaiian Islands Wednesday and Wednesday night. https://t.co/StSnEHgzif pic.twitter.com/odI4Ft6dlg

— NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) July 19, 2023

The storm is delivering strong winds and heavy rainfall that could result in flash flooding and mudslides. Calvin is expected to remain a tropical storm for another 24 hours before weakening.

“Calvin has almost completed its passage south of Hawaii County,” the hurricane center said. “Expect periods of flash flooding, dangerous surf and damaging winds. Calvin will continue to weaken as it moves westward to the south of the other Hawaiian Islands today and tonight, bringing the potential for some peripheral impacts.”

Between 4 and 8 inches of rain is expected, with some areas seeing up to 10 inches, mainly along the windward and southeast flank of the island of Hawaii, colloquially known as the Big Island.

Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected on the windward areas of Maui, and 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall elsewhere in the state.

Gov. Josh Green declared a state of emergency Tuesday for the Big Island, where government offices are expected to close Wednesday.

“Non-essential employees affected by the closing of those offices should not report to work and shall be granted Administrative Leave,” the governor’s office said.

Swells generated by Calvin spread across the main Hawaiian islands Tuesday night into Wednesday, leading to a rapid increase in surf along east-facing shores. This elevated surf will likely cause life-threatening conditions along exposed shorelines.

As the unrelenting heat wave in the US enters its 39th consecutive day, millions of people from California to Florida are asking: When will it end?

The long-term forecast looks bleak. The extreme heat could continue into August in some of the hardest-hit areas and even a brief glimmer of cooler hope for some parts of the country headed into the weekend will only mean new areas swelter as a heat dome slides west.

The first heat alerts went out on June 10 and more than 2,300 heat records have fallen from Florida to California. That number will only grow as millions of people suffer through dangerous temperatures.

Phoenix hit 110 degrees for a record-breaking 19th consecutive day on Tuesday. The temperature kept climbing to a new daily record of 118 degrees, one of 20 record highs set yesterday. Then it hardly cooled overnight, and on Wednesday morning, the city set a new all-time record for highest low temperature of 97 degrees.

The longevity of this heat wave, combined with the dangerously low overnight temperatures, are taking a toll on human health and infrastructure in Arizona. There have been 12 confirmed heat-related deaths in Phoenix’s Maricopa County in the first week of July, and 55 deaths in the county are suspected to be heat related and are under investigation, according to data from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Bronson and a group of other mountain bikers came to the aid of four hikers who were suffering from heat exhaustion on one of the park’s trails. The hikers were eventually airlifted from the trail and treated for heat illness after two of the bikers rode to the trailhead and called emergency responders for help. Torres Bronson stayed back with the hikers, but he was later found unresponsive on the trail and died.

Heat is the number one killer of all extreme weather, National Weather Service data shows, and as temperatures continue to rise, scientists expect it to make even more people ill.

Historic heat dome to shift later this week

An enormous, relentless stubborn ridge of high pressure has trapped air inside in a “heat dome” resulting in extreme temperatures as the dome parks itself over areas.

The heat will remain until a shift in the weather pattern occurs and either breaks apart the heat dome or moves it out of the country completely. That’s not expected anytime soon.

Instead, the dangerous heat will continue through this week, with more records broken each day.

The Desert Southwest and Texas will continue to see daytime highs in the triple digits this week. High temperatures along the Gulf Coast and mid-South will be in the upper 90s for the rest of the week, with heat indices as high as 120 degrees. Record-breaking warm low temperatures will provide little relief in what’s typically the coolest time of the day.

Only the Southern Plains and Gulf Coast could see some relief in the coming days as the heat dome shifts back to the west and a cold front advances across the area. By the end of the week, numerous cities will at least temporarily get out of the most intense heat.

Little Rock, Arkansas, will go from a high of 99 degrees on Wednesday to a high of 86 degrees on Saturday. Oklahoma City will also go from triple digits Wednesday to the mid-80s on Friday.

But that just means that new areas as far north as Montana could see serious heat starting this weekend. Temperatures in Billings, Montana, will go from a high of 84 degrees on Wednesday to a high of 99 degrees on Saturday.

Extreme heat could last into August

The heat streak will continue next week and potentially into August in the Desert Southwest, Texas and South Florida.

The only hope for the Southwest is that sporadic monsoonal rain will bring some temporary relief, however, the overall temperature pattern will remain hot. Areas that do see any rain could see higher heat indices because of additional moisture and higher humidity coming in from Mexico.

According to the Climate Prediction Center, the greatest chance for above normal temperatures the next two weeks is in the Plains, parts of the South, including South Florida, and the Southwest, meaning temperatures should stay hot, it’s just a matter of how hot it will get.

If that holds true, then the heat wave will be approaching two consecutive months, or more than 50 days, over these same areas.

Correction: A previous version of this story mischaracterized the status of the 55 other suspected heat-related deaths; they are still under investigation. It also misstated where the deaths occurred; they were in Maricopa County.

A tornado in North Carolina severely damaged a Pfizer plant, damaged several other structures, shut down a major interstate and injured at least four people.

The tornado was at least an EF-2 with winds of up to 135 mph, the National Weather Service said, as it tore a path of damage through Nash County, around 45 miles northeast of Raleigh, on Wednesday afternoon. It initially touched down west of Dortches before crossing Interstate 95 into an area north of Rocky Mount.

Some structures in the tornado’s path were completely flattened. Pfizer’s Rocky Mount facility suffered severe damage from the tornado – video from helicopters showed the roof crumpled like paper and building debris scattered into the surrounding parking lot. There were no reports of injuries at the plant, according to a statement from the company.

“We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident,” the statement said.

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone urged people to stay off roads because of downed power lines, a gas leak and other severe damage across the area.

The tornado toppled trees onto Interstate 95, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said, shutting the highway down in both directions for at least an hour before later reopening.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper acknowledged the damage on Twitter and said that first responders were on scene helping clear roads and provide other aid.

An initial survey by the National Weather Service found the EF-2 damage in Dortches late Wednesday afternoon. Teams are still surveying the area and could update the tornado’s final strength depending on the severity of the damage they find.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Kentucky’s governor declared an emergency Wednesday after heavy – and potentially record-setting – rain caused widespread flooding throughout the state.

The western town of Mayfield saw 11.28 inches of rain from early Wednesday to 1 p.m., the National Weather Service in Paducah said.

If verified, that would establish a new 24-hour rainfall record for the state, the service said. The record heading into Wednesday was 10.48 inches of rain, set in Louisville in 1997, the weather service said.

“An incredible amount of water in a very short duration unfortunately,” the weather service said.

“Please pray for Mayfield and areas of Western Kentucky impacted by significant flooding from last night’s storms,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release. “We’re working to assess the damage and respond. Just like every challenge we’ve faced, we will be there for all those affected. We will get through this together.”

Mayfield still is recovering from a devastating tornado in 2021 that left at least 80 people dead in Kentucky. The tornado was one of at least 50 that struck several states that December.

Wednesday morning, the whole town was covered in water.

Officials received the first calls for assistance around 4:30 a.m., Mayor Kathy Stewart O’Nan said, and first responders began knocking on doors to help residents evacuate.

The sun was shining again by Wednesday afternoon, and most roads had reopened by the evening, O’Nan said.

“By mid-morning no one had checked into a shelter, so we are counting our blessings,” the mayor said.

A ‘disaster area’

Tia Nalani Nathaniel Rhodes, who lives with her family in Mayfield, said she first noticed the neighborhood was flooding around 3 a.m. Wednesday. A nearby creek overflowed and added to the flash flooding, she said.

“The water reached the front door of my home,” Rhodes said. “The insides of many cars and trucks were also flooded and everyone’s yard furniture is floating around. Mayfield is a disaster area.”

A dozen roads were closed following the floods and others were washed out, the Graves County Sheriff’s Office said.

It urged “extreme caution” on roads with washouts, where the asphalt has broken and fallen away.

The sheriff’s office called it “major flooding like many have never seen.”

Beshear urged residents to keep themselves and their families safe.

“Remember, we can replace stuff and we can rebuild homes. We don’t want to lose any lives,” Beshear said in a video as he signed the emergency declaration.