People play in the fountains by the East River during a heat advisory in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday. Photograph: Adam Gray/AP
Texas storms have prompted hundreds of flight cancellations as the region faces flash flood warnings and school closures. Meanwhile, the northeastern United States is experiencing a dramatic cooldown after a heatwave that broke temperature records.
Flight Disruptions in Texas
Nearly 150 flights were canceled or delayed at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Wednesday, following nearly 700 delays on Tuesday, according to Flightaware. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Dallas and Love Field. North Texas is expecting at least one inch of rain from Wednesday through Friday, with isolated flooding possible, per the National Weather Service. The greatest flood risk is on Thursday. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect over central Texas, with some areas potentially receiving between three and five inches of rain.
Northeast Heatwave Ends
In the northeast, Wednesday marks the final day of a heatwave as severe storms are expected to bring temperatures down from the mid-90s Fahrenheit to the mid-60s. New York City recorded a high of approximately 92°F in Central Park on Tuesday. Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, noted: "The seemingly endless temperature rollercoaster this spring will continue through the holiday weekend with another sharp cooldown across the northeastern quarter of the nation." He added that this pattern has wreaked havoc on plants and agriculture, with the region swinging from record-breaking heat to hard freezes and back.
Rainfall Deficits and Water Conservation
The unstable spring weather has led to rainfall deficits across parts of the mid-Atlantic and southeast. Rivers such as the Potomac and Shenandoah are experiencing record-low flow rates. Baltimore officials are encouraging voluntary water conservation, according to AccuWeather.
