Watch the CNN story of how one woman took in five families under one roof after the Maui fires destroyed their homes.

It's hard to come up with the words after the week we just witnessed in Hawaii. The total loss and devastation of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui is unthinkable. I have the fondest family memories of the town, as so many others do. Our hearts are with the people who are part of the community.

Get the latest on the Maui fires here

The weather behind the fires:

There was a strong area of high pressure to the north of the Hawaiian Islands, which isn't odd for this region. Then Category 4 Hurricane Dora slid past to the south. It was 700 miles away from Hawaii, but the strong low (which was Dora) and the strong high to the north worked in tandem to enhance very strong winds. At times, winds were gusting at more than 80 mph. It caused the fire to spread so quickly, people couldn't outrun it and were forced to jump into the ocean to try to survive. In the end, the entire town was reduced to ash.

By the numbers:

At least 96 people have died
2,170 acres burned
2,207 structures lost or damaged
4,500 people living in shelters

Here are ways you can help the wildfire victims

Tropical Storm Greg will cross south of Hawaii this week

Tropical storm Greg will travel south of Hawaii this week and help to increase winds once again. Both atmospheric components won't be as strong last week, so impacts should be far less. However, windy conditions will return and so, too, will fire danger.

Major heat wave creates dangerous fire potential in Pacific Northwest and Canada

The Northwest US has mostly been able to dodge major heat this summer, but it has arrived with a vengeance and could help to stoke and start wildfires, including in parts of western Canada where hundreds of wildfires are raging out of control.

People across parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho will face a rare "extreme" level of heat risk through Wednesday with temperatures expected to run as much as 20 degrees above normal.

The "extreme Heat Risk" is the highest possible risk level for heat, akin to a "high risk" for tornadoes. It is meant to warn of significant heat impacts, including heat-related illness, and urge preparation.

The temperatures are forecast to break records: Portland could hit 107 degrees Monday, which would break its old daily record and tie its hottest recorded temperature for the month of August. Eugene, Oregon, is also forecast to hit 107 degrees today, which would shatter its previous daily record of 101 degrees. All told, more 230 heat records could be broken on Monday and Tuesday across the country.

Get your local forecast here

In addition to the high heat, red flag warnings signaling the increased fire danger cover much of western Oregon and Washington. Low humidity levels and gusty winds will make for prime fire conditions.

Trees catch fire during the Eagle Bluff wildfire after it crossed the Canada-U.S. border from the state of Washington and prompted evacuation orders in British Columbia, Canada, July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Jesse Winter

Roughly 2,600 firefighters are out battling the seven large fires burning across Oregon and Washington. Even small fires, like the Lookout Fire in Lane County, Oregon, can cause issues fast. The 200-acre fire forced evacuations Sunday night. Weather conditions will cause the fires to easily spread and allow new ones to ignite.

The hot conditions are reaching as far north as Canada which is in the middle of its worst fire season on record. Heat warnings are currently in effect for southern sections of the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The hot, dry conditions also fed more fires across British Columbia, where more than 375 active fires are currently burning. More than half of those have ignited in just the last 24 hours.

The exceptional heat hasn't let up across the South. The entirety of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are under heat alerts. Excessive heat warnings, which is the highest level of heat alert, include major cities like Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida. Heat indexes will be 110 to 120 degrees across these cities.

Some temporary heat relief is coming for parts of the South, minus the Gulf Coast and Florida. A cold front will push through the region tonight, dropping high temperatures for a large chunk of the heat oppressed back into the upper 80s to low 90s -- a much more seasonal forecast.

The low 90s are still hot but will feel like a temporary break from the dangerous heat before it builds back in again by the end of the week.

Other weather stories to keep on your radar this week

There is a chance of severe weather across the East Monday and Tuesday, then the Upper Midwest on Wednesday.
A risk of excessive rainfall could affect the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes today. Parts of the mid-Atlantic could see flash flooding linger into Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center is watching two areas for possible tropical development well out in the Central and Eastern Atlantic. Both have less than a 40% chance of development in the next seven days, but given increasing odds of an active hurricane season, they're both worth keeping an eye on.

Thank you for reading this week's weather brief. If you know someone who would like or could benefit from this newsletter, please forward them this email and have them sign up here.

We also love hearing from you! Please email us any questions or concerns you have, or any future story ideas.

We hope you have a wonderful week!

Jen

Read more