by Severe weather slowed down some of the world’s fastest motorsports athletes over the weekend, but NASCAR finally made its debut Sunday in Chicago after an overnight rain delay.
The NASCAR Cup began late on Sunday after torrential rains delayed its start on Saturday. The delay continued through the afternoon, and the event was cut short with oncoming darkness.
On Sunday night, New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, the Australian Supercar champion, became the first driver in more than half a century to win a NASCAR debut start.
“This was great,” he said after the race. “This is what you dream of. Hopefully I can come and do more.”
Chicago was not alone. Severe weather hit a wide swath of the US from New York and Pennsylvania to Arkansas.
Scattered showers were reported across Kentucky and Tennessee, and the storm line was expected to shift to the Appalachian Mountains overnight.
Flooding was reported in Clinton County, New York.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said rain in the past 12 hours had caused dangerous conditions in some areas.
“I am closely monitoring the situation and have directed my team to assist local officials as needed,” Hochul said in a statement on Sunday.
The storm system will target the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic region on Monday, affecting 29 million people in Philadelphia; baltimore; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Damaging wind, large hail, and a tornado or two will be possible.
As the July 4 holiday approaches, the Northeast and Southeast can expect scattered showers and temperatures in the 80s and 90s, respectively.
The Midwest and Rocky Mountains may receive rain, while the West will be sunny and dry, with temperatures in the 70s to 100s.
Coast-to-coast heat alerts
About 63 million people from coast to coast remained under heat alerts Sunday afternoon, including those living in Raleigh; Charlotte; Atlanta; Tallahassee, Fla.; Montgomery, Alabama; New Orleans; Corpus Christi, Texas; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Bakersfield and Sacramento, Calif.; and Portland, Oregon.
Excessive heat warnings have been issued for Mohave, Maricopa, Yuma and eight other Arizona counties.
More than 30 registrations were threatened Sunday in cities in eight states: Tucson and Phoenix; Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; Fresno and Palm Springs, Calif.; New Orleans; and Asheville, North Carolina.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recorded a high temperature of 115, the hottest of the year so far, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service in Las Vegas said the time it took to rise 10 degrees in triple-digit high temperatures, starting with a high of 100 degrees on Friday and ending with a high of 110 on Sunday, was the shortest since 1955.
Tucson International Airport reached 110 degrees on Sunday, the weather service said. It was expected to be warmer on Monday, he said.
Death Valley National Park in California reached at least 119 on Sunday, with the official maximum yet to be announced, and expectations that 123 was possible, the weather service said.
On Saturday, Tallahassee temperatures reached a high of 100 degrees, tying a record set in 1990, according to the National Metereological Service. In New Orleans, a heat alert was in effect Sunday.
“Heat indices as high as 110 are expected,” said the wtw leather servicereunioneducate. “Practice heat safety and take care!”
In the West, heat alerts will continue through Tuesday as afternoon highs range from 100 to 120 degrees. Temperatures will drop to or below average in California and Arizona during the second half of the week.
Authorities have recorded 18 heat-related deaths in the US since June 18: 11 in Webb County, Texas, and two in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
