Some western states have been ravaged by wildfires that have lasted for several weeks and are now facing warnings that thunderstorms may trigger flash floods.
The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that “the heavy rainfall brought about by monsoon activity will continue The possibility of flash floods,” added that although flash floods may help extinguish some fires, California, which is suffering from drought, may not be able to alleviate it, USA Today reported.
So far, as thunderstorms move westward, these states have been placed under flood watch: Montana, New Mexico, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and parts of Colorado. Because the United States is experiencing its most active monsoon season in the past six years.The NWS in Spokane, Washington warned Thunderstorm on the west side of the city Sunday night. The local unit stated that residents experiencing flooding should contact NWS.
The latest forecasts indicate that 20-30 mph wind gusts are expected in the west. According to a report by KRTV, a subsidiary of CBS, in Montana, there is only a small chance of thunderstorms on Monday, but on Tuesday, most of the time is expected to be cloudy.There is still one The possibility of thunderstorms Or the afternoon rains in central and western Montana.
There were first signs of a potential flash flood on Sunday, when Interstate 70, which passed through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, had to be closed after multiple landslides; dozens of drivers were trapped in mud and debris and had to be rescued . Boulders and logs blocked the highway, which is the main two-way traffic corridor between the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast. The Colorado Department of Transportation stated that the highway suffered “great damage.”Highway will Keep closed The report said that in the foreseeable future.
Areas where wildfires have lost vegetation cover are particularly prone to mudslides. The National Interagency Fire Protection Center (NIFC) said on Sunday, Seven new fires have been lit, Bringing the total number of active fires in the country to 91, CNN reported.
Compared with the 32,059 fires that burned 2.1 million acres last year, there have been 37,803 fires in the United States so far this year, and more than 3 million acres of fires have occurred in different states. More than 22,000 firefighters have been deployed across the country to fight wildfires.
Of all the affected states, Oregon had the largest number of acres burned, with 554,587 acres being destroyed by wildfires, including large-scale piracy fires that burned more than 413,000 acres. Idaho recorded the most fires: 23.
Minnesota also set two record highs The worst air quality, Late last week, sparked a discussion about how climate change affects the overall air quality and weather in the United States. President Joe Biden said at a virtual meeting on Friday that the current wildfire situation in the country “is a challenge that requires urgent action.”
The monsoon rains are expected to help firefighters extinguish the fires, but some experts warned of potentially dangerous situations such as mudslides on Interstate 70. There are also fears that thunderstorms will cause new fires due to lightning.
Representative image
Photo: AFP/Sayed Khan
