Extreme weather has hit across the United States this week, from heat waves to snowstorms to flash floods.
While the Midwest boiled, the West Coast saw a taste of winter, and Hawaii flooded.
In Alaska a deadly landslide killed one person and a flash flood in the Grand Canyon killed another.
Midwest Endures Intense Heat Wave
Charlie Riedel/AP
Millions of people across the Midwest faced a brutal heat wave, with high temperatures and stifling humidity.
An emergency medicine physician treating Minnesota State Fairgoers for heat illnesses saw firefighters cut rings off two people’s swollen fingers Monday in hot weather that combined with humidity made it feel well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Schools across the region shortened their schedules or canceled outdoor activities as temperatures climbed.
The National Weather Service issued heat warnings or advisories across Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Several cities including Chicago opened cooling centers.
Forecasters said Tuesday will also be scorching hot and then the heat wave will shift to the south and east.
West Coast Sees Unseasonal Snowstorm
Madera County Sheriff’s Office
An unusually cold storm swept down from the Gulf of Alaska giving the West Coast an early taste of winter.
The storm brought snow to mountain peaks in Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
Mount Shasta, a towering volcano in the Cascade Range, was blanketed in snow, with some areas receiving up to half a foot.
Tropical Storm Brings Heavy Rain to Hawaii
Windy.com
Three tropical cyclones hit the Pacific Ocean on Monday, including Tropical Storm Hone, which brought heavy rain to Hawaii, Hurricane Gilma, which was gaining strength, and Tropical Storm Hector which was churning westward, far off the coast of the southern tip of Baja California.
Hawaii faced extreme rain as Tropical Storm Hone passed over.
The storm caused flash floods, road closures, and power outages.
Despite the intense rainfall, authorities reported no significant injuries or major damage.
Deadly Landslide Strikes Alaska
Anna Laffrey/Ketchikan Daily News/AP
In Alaska, a deadly landslide struck the city of Ketchikan, crashing into several homes and killing one person.
The landslide, triggered by heavy rains, also injured three others and forced the evacuation of nearby homes.
The region remains unstable, and authorities said that state and local geologists were arriving to assess the area for potential secondary slides.
Flash Flood Claims Life in Grand Canyon
Maj. Erin Hannigan/U.S. Army/AP
A flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park claimed the life of an Arizona woman, Chenoa Nickerson.
She was hiking near Havasu Creek when the floodwaters hit, sweeping her away.
Her body was later found by rafters on the Colorado River.
The flash flood trapped several hikers, but over 100 people were safely evacuated.
