At least 37 people died in Kentucky from the catastrophic flooding in Appalachia last week, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.
The latest: Beshear said at a press conference earlier Monday that the death toll was likely to increase because the state knew of "additional bodies" beyond the confirmed tally at that time.
A wildfire in far northern California, near the border with Oregon, grew from ignition on Friday afternoon to become the state's biggest fire so far this year, at nearly 52,500 acres by Sunday evening.
The latest: At least two people were found dead in a car in a residential driveway on Sunday morning in the town of Klamath River, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook on Monday.
Large wildfires ignited in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas on Sunday, bringing the total number burning across the U.S. to 53, according to firefighting agency data.
The big picture: A report from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Sunday indicates the worst may be yet to come, with the "potential for lightning followed by a heat wave across the northern half of the West." This "could increase the potential for significant fire activity," per the NIFC.
Authorities believe a blistering heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest earlier this week continued into Sunday has contributed to at least seven deaths, AP reports.
Driving the news: An elderly man living in Clackamas County, Oregon, was the latest suspected heat-related death. The man died in his home, which didn't have a functioning air conditioner, the county said in a statement.
Kentucky's flood-related death toll rose to 28 as search and rescue efforts continued Sunday and forecasters warned the state and other parts of the Appalachia faced the risk of further flooding from heavy rains.
What's happening: Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday he expected the death toll in eastern Kentucky to increase, as 37 people were unaccounted for Sunday.
