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.

  • Red Flag Warnings issued for parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado as critical fire weather spreads on March 15

    ByRishav Kothari

    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 issued across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee

    ByRishav Kothari

    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 customers lose power across Hawaii as Kona low brings damaging winds and flash flooding

    ByRishav Kothari

    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 issued for California and Arizona as anomalous heat intensifies across parts of the Southwest

    ByRishav Kothari

    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 issued for parts of South Dakota and Minnesota as heavy snow and strong winds threaten whiteout conditions

    ByRishav Kothari

    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.

  • Kona low prompts statewide closures as severe weather threat intensifies across Hawaii

    ByRishav Kothari

    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 remain in effect from Idaho and Montana to the Upper Midwest

    ByRishav Kothari

    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).

  • Major mid-March blizzard forecast to bring potentially record snowfall to parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes

    ByRishav Kothari

    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.

  • Long-duration atmospheric river impacts Washington and Oregon with heavy rain, snow and flood risk, U.S.

    ByRishav Kothari

    An atmospheric river made landfall in the Pacific Northwest during the morning of March 11, 2026, bringing heavy rain and snow across portions of Washington and Oregon. Forecasts show that the event will continue affecting the region through early March 14, producing significant precipitation totals, flooding concerns, and major winter weather impacts in mountainous terrain.

  • Winter Storm Warnings issued from the Rockies to the Upper Midwest and Northeast

    ByRishav Kothari

    Winter Storm Warnings have been issued from the Rocky Mountains to the Upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast, with heavy snow, strong winds, and mixed precipitation forecast through March 14, 2026. Warnings will remain in effect from March 12 to 14 across much of Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Maine, with more than 90 cm (3 feet) of snow forecast in some areas.