I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Heavy snowfall caused multiple vehicle spinouts and crashes on I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, forcing authorities to close the highway in both directions on March 13 and keep it closed overnight into March 14, 2026. Snoqualmie Pass received about 56 cm (22 inches) of new snow overnight, while the Summit at Snoqualmie reported about 107 cm (42 inches) over 48 hours during the storm.
A major winter storm is affecting the Northern Plains and the western Great Lakes in the United States on March 15–16, bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and widespread blizzard conditions. Snowfall rates of up to 7.5 cm (3 inches) per hour and wind gusts of up to 95 km/h (60 mph) are forecast across parts of eastern South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan as a strengthening low-pressure system moves toward southeastern Canada. Travel conditions are expected to become extremely dangerous across the affected region.
Strong winds and very dry air behind a powerful storm system are creating critical fire weather across parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado on March 15, 2026, prompting Red Flag Warnings across multiple forecast areas. Wind gusts may reach 105 km/h (65 mph), while relative humidity is forecast to fall as low as 6 to 15 percent in some areas, supporting rapid fire growth and spread.
Freeze Warnings and Watches have been issued for parts of eight southern U.S. states as sub-freezing temperatures are forecast from March 16 into March 17, 2026. Temperatures could fall as low as −12°C (10°F) in the coldest parts of Arkansas, while many other areas are expected to bottom out in the −7°C to −2°C (19 to 28°F) range. Frost, freeze conditions, and gusty post-frontal winds may damage sensitive vegetation and, in the coldest areas, affect exposed outdoor plumbing.
Over 130 000 electricity customers across Hawaii lost power on March 13, 2026, as a powerful Kona low brought heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and thunderstorms to the islands. Wind gusts up to 126 km/h (78 mph) were recorded on Oʻahu while forecasters warned rainfall totals of 250–500 mm (10–20 inches) could raise the risk of flash flooding.
Extreme Heat Watches have been issued for parts of California and Arizona as an anomalous and unusually prolonged heat event intensifies across the Southwest United States. Watches begin Monday, March 16, 2026, in parts of Southern California, then expand into parts of Arizona and southeast California later in the week, with some desert areas forecast to reach up to 43°C (109°F) and temperatures in some locations rising 11–17°C (20–30°F) above normal for mid-March.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for parts of South Dakota and southwest Minnesota beginning late Saturday, March 14, 2026, as a major winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow, blowing snow, ice in some areas, and wind gusts up to 80 to 90 km/h (50 to 55 mph). Forecasters warn that whiteout conditions could make travel extremely dangerous or impossible from Saturday night into Sunday, with some warning areas remaining under blizzard conditions into early Monday.
A powerful Kona low on Friday, March 13, 2026, bringing widespread severe weather across the islands. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Big Island summits, where heavy snow and ice are forecast above 3 350 m (11 000 feet). Forecasters warned that persistent rainfall bands and severe thunderstorms could trigger flash flooding while damaging wind gusts affect multiple islands.
Winter Storm Warnings remained in effect across parts of Montana, Idaho, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wyoming on Friday, March 13, 2026, as a broad winter storm brought heavy snow, blowing snow, and hazardous travel conditions from the northern Rockies into the Upper Midwest. Forecast totals ranged from several cm in some lower elevations to 150 cm (5 feet) in parts of Idaho’s higher terrain, while parts of Montana’s mountain ranges were forecast to receive up to 120 cm (4 feet).
A major winter storm is forecast to develop over Wyoming on Saturday, March 14, 2026, before expanding into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest by Sunday, March 15, and reaching the Great Lakes by Monday, March 16. WPC said embedded snow bands could produce snowfall rates of 2.5–7.6 cm (1–3 inches) per hour, with blizzard or near-blizzard conditions possible as wind gusts reach about 80 km/h (50 mph), and parts of the core snow band could receive more than 60 cm (24 inches) of snow.
