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NWS Forecasts Dangerous, Record Heat Build in Central, Eastern US

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The US National Weather Service forecast the expansion of dangerous, record-breaking heat from across central US towards the east this week.

The Southwest and portions of the Great Basin are expected to experience wildfire risks through Monday.

Meanwhile, the northern Plains and upper Midwest are likely to encounter severe thunderstorms, along with risks of large to very large hail and severe winds.

The NWS early Monday issued a red flag warning for New Mexico's Raton, Clayton, Roy, and Las Vegas. TXNM Energy (TXNM) unit Public Service Co. of New Mexico and Xcel Energy (XEL) are among the primary electricity suppliers in New Mexico.

A similar warning was raised for Colorado's Craig, Rangely, Meeker, Rifle, Grand Junction, Aspen, Montrose, Gunnison, Nucla, Cortez, Durango, Lake City, Alamosa, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Vail, Kremmling, Leadville, Buena Vista, Creede, Wolf Creek Pass, Saguache, South Fork, Salida, Woodland Park, Pikes Peak, Canon City, West Cliff, Pueblo, La Veta Pass, South Fork, Colorado Springs, San Luis, Trinidad, Granby, Georgetown, Fairplay, Boulder and Castle Rock.

Xcel Energy and Black Hills (BKH) unit Black Hills Energy are the primary electricity service providers in Colorado.

Affected areas in Arizona included Flagstaff, Winslow, Show Low, St. Johns, and parts of Chinle, primarily served by Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) unit Arizona Public Service Company.

Also placed under a red flag warning were Bluff, Blanding, Moab, Monticello, and parts of Vernal in Utah, which primarily falls under the service area of PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power.

The NWS issued an extreme heat warning for most of Iowa, excluding parts of Estherville. MidAmerican Energy Company, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and Alliant Energy (LNT) are the major power suppliers in the state.

A majority of Wisconsin, except for Park Falls, Rhinelander, and parts of Hayward, were also placed under an extreme heat warning watch. WEC Energy Group's (WEC) Wisconsin Public Service, Xcel Energy, and Alliant Energy are among the major service providers in Wisconsin.

A similar warning was issued for Minnesota's Hinckley, Brainerd, St. Cloud, Willmar, Minneapolis, Red Wing, Mankato, Rochester, and Albert Lea. Otter Tail (OTTR) unit Otter Tail Power, Allette (ALE) subsidiary Minnesota Power, Xcel Energy, and Alliant Energy and among the service providers in the state. .

An extreme heat warning was also raised for Michigan's Ludington, Pentwater, Kalamazoo, Big Rapids, Clare, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Alma, Ionia, Grand Rapids, Holland, Hastings, South Haven, Lansing, Jackson, Benton Harbour, and Cold Water. CMS Energy (CMS) unit Consumers Energy, and DTE Energy (DTE) are among the major service providers in these places.

Affected areas in Missouri include Rockport, Grant City, Maryville, Bethany Trenton, Kirksville, St. Joseph, Plattsburg, Chillicothe, Carrollton, Moberly, Macon, Boonville, Sedalia, Clinton, Buttler, Harrisonville, Warrensburg, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, and Washington. Evergy, Ameren's (AEE) Missouri unit, and Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) subsidiary Liberty are the major service providers in Missouri.

In Illinois, an extreme heat warning was raised for Mount Vernon, Carbondale, Carmi, Freeport, Galesburg, Macomb, and Princeton. Princeton was also covered under a flood warning watch along with Peoria, Canton, Pekin, Havana, Jacksonville, and Olney. Ameren's Illinois unit and Exelon (EXC) subsidiary ComEd are among the major service providers in Illinois.

In Kansas, an extreme heat warning was issued for Topeka, Ottawa, Paola, Leavenworth, Atchison, Concordia, Manhatta, Lawrence, and Emporia, while a flood warning was raised for Kingman, Arkansas City, and Coffeyville. Evergy (EVRG) is among the major service providers in the state.

Also covered under an extreme warning watch were parts of Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, and Nebraska.

The NWS also issued flood warnings for certain pockets of Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

The NWS issued a freeze warning for Nevada's Monticello, Elko, Wells, Eureka, Austin, and Ely, primarily served by Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary NV Energy.

A winter storm warning was raised for Idaho's Shoup, Salmon, Leadore, and Challis, where Idacorp's (IDA) Idaho Power is the major service provider; and Montana's Sula, Hamilton, Drummond, Anaconda, Butte, and areas near Dillon and Missoula, primarily served by Northwestern Energy (NWE).

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