Tropical Storm Bill made landfall about 4 hours ago on Matagorda Island around 11.45am CDT with max winds of 60 mph.

Here was the visible satellite image at the time of landfall.

Despite Bill being inland and well to the south, it’s a downright stormy afternoon at Galveston.

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What a difference 400-800 miles makes either side…

Wilmington, NC

Rock Hill, SC

Phoenix, AZ

Las Vegas, NV

NHC forecast track remains the same.

The ECMWF really holds this thing together hundreds of miles inland! Could have severe consequences in terms of flooding and unusually strong winds for areas such as Dallas and Oklahoma City.

So, as you know, Bill will ride around the powerful upper ridge that’s baking the Southeast in record breaking heat. Flooding associated with Bill may extend all the way into the Appalachians of Pennsylvania.

As already stated, today has been another day of dangerous heat over the Southeast, especially along the Carolina coastal plain. Areas near the coast of South Carolina are experiencing heat indexes over 110 this afternoon.

Check out the stunning sunrise over Charleston, SC this morning.

How long does this Southeast heat bubble hold before bursting? According to the CFSv2, it weakens but holds for quite some time.

Meanwhile in the Southwest, we’re seeing even worse heat and the hottest weather of the year so far. The first 110s are now affecting Phoenix and Las Vegas while it’s into the infamous 120s in Death Valley.

While hot now, it gets hotter late this week into the weekend.

Graphic from NWS Las Vegas

See this morning’s video for today’s discussion. More tomorrow.

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Tags: flooding rain, heat wave, record heat, tropical storm bill