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At least eight people have died as severe weather continues to sweep across the United States, with flash flooding, powerful thunderstorms and extreme heat disrupting travel and threatening communities on July 19.The National Weather Service said "scattered strong to severe thunderstorms" could produce damaging wind gusts July 19 across the Carolinas, southeastern Virginia and the Tennessee Valley, with the threat shifting to the northern Plains into the night. Thunderstorms could bring locally significant flash flooding, urban flooding and small-stream flooding across parts of the Southwest this week.The severe weather conditions came after days of flooding in Texas, along with flash flooding in Utah and Arizona, that left the eight individuals dead, according to authorities.In the Northeast, torrential rain flooded roads and stranded motorists in New York City and surrounding areas. More than 1,200 flights were canceled on July 19 as airlines worked to recover from weather-related disruptions.Meanwhile, air quality alerts remained in place in multiple states as smoke from the Canadian wildfires made its way south and east, according to the weather service. Forecasters also warned that dangerous heat will build across the Southeast into the week, with heat indices potentially exceeding 110 degrees."The most significant heat may last for several days at any individual location, and the persistence of the heat will make it more dangerous," the weather service said. "This level of heat will affect anyone without adequate cooling or hydration."Flooding leaves trail of destruction in Texas Hill CountryAuthorities in Texas spent much of last week responding to catastrophic flooding across the Hill Country, where more than 27 inches of rain fell in some areas since July 14, according to the weather service. The heavy rain began to ease in the region on July 17, with hot and dry weather expected in the coming week.Forecasters warned that some major rivers were expected to crest over the weekend. During a news conference July 17, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that even if the worst of the rain is behind the state, "the rivers are going to continue to rise."State officials confirmed at least two flood-related deaths, and hundreds of people were rescued from homes, vehicles and other locations threatened by rapidly rising water. A 65-year-old man died after he was swept away in his RV near the town of Comfort, and a 74-year-old man died after driving into floodwaters in Uvalde County, according to Abbott.The Texas flooding came after last July's flood on the Guadalupe River, which killed more than 130 people, including 28 at a Christian summer camp for girls, Camp Mystic.Flooding kills family in Utah, man in ArizonaIn southern Utah, floodwaters racing through a canyon killed five members of a family, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. The family arrived July 17 at the Sunglow Campground area near Bicknell, a small town along State Route 24, to go hiking and canyoneering.“It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.Deputies discovered a body in a wash near the campground at around 5 p.m. local time July 17, the office confirmed. Authorities started a search and rescue operation and recovered the bodies of the other family members in the following days.The sheriff’s office did not identify the victims, but the Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that a fire captain, Spencer Long, and his family members were killed."We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family," the fire department said July 18. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time."In Arizona, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said the body of a 29-year-old man who was swept into the Santa Cruz River was recovered on July 18. The man, who was identified as Ernesto Ojeda, was reported missing the previous day."His family was concerned for his safety because he had been near the wash earlier in the day, and storm activity had caused water levels in the Julian Wash to rise," the sheriff's office said in a news release.Smoke, wildfires worsen conditionsWildfire smoke from Canada continued to blanket parts of the United States on July 19. Air quality alerts remained in place in portions of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as in some regions in Idaho and Oregon, the weather service said.Toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires brought a sepia-tinged haze for several days, making conditions dangerous for people with respiratory issues, the elderly and children. Canadian authorities say there are still more than 950 active wildfires burning, with a small number of them under control.President Donald Trump last week threatened to levy new tariffs on Canadian goods over what he described in a social media post as the United States "being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!"Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY; Reuters
