Key facts
- Three deaths have been recorded due to flooding in eastern India.
- Numerous villages in West Bengal, India, have been affected by severe flooding.
- A 20ft embankment collapsed at East Basudevpur, India, impacting river flow.
- Hurricane Marie-induced swells caused beach erosion and damaged homes and vehicles in California.
- Daytime temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s Celsius or up to 40C in central US states.
- Persistent high pressure is driving the heatwave across central US states.
Flooding in eastern India's West Bengal state, particularly around the city of Malda, has resulted in three recorded deaths and affected numerous villages, including Bhutni. Erosion from the flooding, reported in Khaskol, disrupted river flow and exacerbated the impact in Bhutni. Over 100 boats have been deployed for evacuations. In East Basudevpur, a 20ft embankment collapsed, significantly reducing a river channel's width and raising concerns of further flooding if not repaired. The flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall causing the Ganges River to rise approximately 75cm above its extreme danger level. Meanwhile, in California, hurricane-induced swells from Hurricane Marie caused significant beach erosion across Orange County on September 7. This erosion created cliff edges on some beaches and exposed old infrastructure like asphalt and pipes. The flooding damaged homes, vehicles, and streets, leaving behind a layer of sand. While beach erosion is not uncommon in the area, locals described this as one of the most severe cases. Separately, a heatwave is forecast to persist across many central US states, with daytime temperatures widely expected to reach the high 30s Celsius or up to 40C in states like Oklahoma and Kansas. This is attributed to a persistent area of high pressure and warm surface conditions, increasing the risk of wildfires in the region.