1 Believed Dead in Washington as Multi-Day Wildfire Leads to Mass Evacuation as More Extreme Weather Ravages Parts of the U.S.

Gulf states are grappling with the remnants of a tropical storm while the Midwest has experienced several tornadoes

NEED TO KNOW

• Tornadoes, wildfires and the remnants of a tropical storm have battered parts of the United States this week
• The Upriver Fire in Spokane, Washington has destroyed homes, prompted evacuations and resulted in at least one death
• Meanwhile, Gulf states are grappling with the heavy rainfall and flooding associated with Arthur, which was classified as a tropical storm until the evening of June 17

Several bouts of intense weather are battering parts of the United States this week.

As the country enters the heat of the summer months, severe weather, including tornadoes, wildfires and intense thunderstorms, has descended upon nearly every major region in the U.S., with some fronts expected to persist into the coming days.

At least seven tornadoes swept through the Midwest and Southeast regions on Wednesday, June 17, threatening scores of people and homes as the storms persist, per CBS News. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in Harper's Ferry, Iowa, at 5:10 p.m., and 90 minutes later, another touched down in Charleston, Ill.

The latter sustained "significant" damage to property, and late on June 17, the Charleston Illinois Police Department shared Mayor Brandon Combs' issuance of a local state of emergency in response.

"The storm has resulted in numerous downed power lines, fallen trees, and debris-covered roadways throughout the city, creating hazardous conditions for residents and motorists," Charleston Police's statement read. "Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel and stay off the roadways whenever possible to allow emergency personnel, utility crews, and public works staff to safely conduct response and recovery operations."

Meanwhile in Spokane, Wash., the Upriver Fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, continues to burn homes and property, calling for more than 1,500 homes to be evacuated, according to the Associated Press.

The ongoing blaze has potentially resulted in at least one death. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office revealed that potential human remains were discovered at a residence destroyed by the fire. The discovery occurred on June 16 after a family member had asked for a welfare check.

"Deputies responded to the address and found the fire had destroyed it. Due to the extreme conditions and the ongoing fire in the area, they were unable to investigate further," the sheriff's office said in a release. "Deputies contacted the family member and learned that the person refused to leave their home after receiving the Level 3 Evacuation Alert and was still believed to be inside."

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In the Gulf states, communities are grappling with the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, including intense rain, thunderstorms and flooding. After losing its tropical storm status late on Wednesday night, the weather system is expected to move through the Southeast region of the U.S. before trailing off the coast of the Carolinas on Friday, The Washington Post reported.

The outlet reported one confirmed tornado and another possible tornado around New Orleans early on Thursday, while dangerous weather is expected to spread to Mississippi and Alabama later in the day.

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