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.
An enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms has been issued for portions of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Lower Great Lakes on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as an unusually strong upper-level storm system brings the threat of widespread damaging winds, large hail, and several tornadoes through the afternoon and evening.
A rare Atlantic Niña has developed across the equatorial Atlantic while El Niño continues strengthening in the tropical Pacific. Although Atlantic Niña events are relatively uncommon, forecasters say the developing pattern could reinforce atmospheric conditions that typically suppress tropical cyclone formation across the Atlantic basin.
At least two people were killed and 230 rescued after repeated thunderstorms produced catastrophic flash flooding across the Texas Hill Country and south-central Texas on July 16, 2026. Up to 711 mm (28 inches) of rain fell in northern Uvalde County over three days, while the Guadalupe River at Comfort rose more than 9 m (30 feet) in under three hours and crested near 11.3 m (37 feet). Texas deployed more than 2 350 emergency responders and over 1 400 response assets as flood waves moved through several river basins.
Record-breaking wildfire smoke has reduced air quality across much of Minnesota, with pollution levels becoming so high that they exceeded the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s routine quality-control limits. The smoke is being generated from wildfires burning across Minnesota and parts of southern Canada. The Superior National Forest is experiencing the worst wildfire conditions in 20 years. Officials warn that hazardous smoke, extreme fire behavior, and additional wildfire growth are expected to continue as crews respond to 15 active fires across the Forest.
A large flood wave moved downstream along the Guadalupe River through the Texas Hill Country on July 16, 2026, prompting a Flash Flood Emergency from Center Point to Bergheim as emergency crews expanded rescues across south-central and western Texas. The event followed a preliminary EF1 tornado confirmed in northwest San Antonio on July 15, but the main active hazard had shifted to life-threatening flash flooding across the Guadalupe basin and Uvalde County.
Mayon volcano remained under Alert Level 3 on July 15, 2026, after PHIVOLCS recorded 187 volcanic earthquakes, 398 rockfalls, 10 pyroclastic density current signals, and SO2 emissions averaging 9 028 tonnes/day from the volcano in Albay, Philippines.
Tropical Depression Five-E formed over the eastern Pacific Ocean south of Baja California, Mexico, on July 14, 2026, and intensified into Tropical Storm Elida at 09:00 UTC on July 15. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the system is forecast to steadily strengthen over the next several days and become a hurricane by the night of July 16, with peak winds expected to reach 161 km/h (100 mph) by July 17.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) assigned a 100% probability of tropical cyclone formation within the next seven days to disturbance EP96 at 05:00 PDT (12:00 UTC) on July 14, 2026, while raising the 48-hour probability to 90%. A low-pressure circulation with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1 007 hPa had already developed by 08:00 PDT (15:00 UTC), and a tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form later on July 14 as the system moves west-northwest offshore of southwestern Mexico
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed parts of the New England region under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The greatest threat covers northern New York and northern New England, where thunderstorms are expected to produce widespread damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes. Forecasters also say that one or two strong tornadoes are possible if conditions develop as expected.
A Moderate Risk (Level 3 of 4) of excessive rainfall is in effect for parts of south-central Texas through Tuesday morning, July 14, 2026. Repeated thunderstorms threaten are expected to produce life-threatening flash flooding across portions of southwest Texas. Forecast guidance shows a greater than 70% chance of rainfall exceeding 76 mm (3 inches) and a more than 50% chance of totals above 127 mm (5 inches) within the Moderate Risk area, while the National Water Center (NWC) expects considerable flooding impacts to last through Thursday, July 16
