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.
One person died in San Antonio, Texas, on May 1, 2026, after flash floods spread across urban areas during periods of heavy rainfall. Police and fire crews recovered the victim from a drainage channel as floodwaters impacted roads and infrastructure.
What initially looked like a discarded gallon jug in a roadside ditch turned out to be a record-breaking hailstone, now confirmed as the largest ever documented in Texas at roughly 18 cm (7.1 inches). It was discovered near Vigo Park in Swisher County by storm chaser Val Castor and his associates on June 2, 2024. They clicked several pictures of the hailstone alongside objects to provide a visual reference of size and submitted them to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The size of the hailstone was determined using photogrammetry and AI analysis along with the estimates from the storm chasers.
North Korea reported a severe drought affecting early-season crops across the country on April 30, 2026, prompting nationwide irrigation efforts to protect wheat and barley production. The dry conditions coincide with existing food shortages, raising concerns over agricultural output during a critical growing period.
The National Weather Service preliminarily rated the Mineral Wells tornado in Texas as EF3, with estimated peak winds of 233 km/h (145 mph), after surveying damage from the April 28, 2026, severe weather event. NWS listed 5 injuries and 0 fatalities, while Mineral Wells officials kept a curfew in place for the affected area as cleanup and damage assessment continued.
The Highway 41 Fire west of Miami, Florida, doubled in size to approximately 2 023 ha (5 000 acres) between April 27 and April 28, 2026, with no containment reported. Authorities have closed sections of Everglades National Park as smoke impacts travel along U.S. Route 41.
Severe thunderstorms struck Mineral Wells on April 28, 2026, injuring at least two people and causing widespread damage across the city. Emergency crews responded to damaged homes and debris-strewn areas, while local authorities declared a disaster and imposed a curfew.
A tornado was reported in Germantown, Clinton County, Illinois, on April 27, 2026, bringing down large trees and damaging homes as severe weather outbreak struck parts of the Midwest.
Torrential rainfall inundated urban districts in Qinzhou, Guangxi, southern China, on April 27, 2026, forcing more than 200 residents to evacuate after streets turned into fast-moving channels and floodwaters spread into residential areas. A reported 538 mm (21.1 inches) of rain fell in 12 hours across Qinzhou and Beihai, with peak 1-hour rainfall reaching 147.7 mm (5.8 inches).
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast across parts of northern Texas into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on April 28, 2026, with an Enhanced Risk issued for parts of the region. Very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are to be expected, while repeated storm activity may increase the risk of flash flooding.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Mid-South on April 27, 2026, with the Storm Prediction Center placing parts of Missouri and Illinois under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5). Multiple strong tornadoes, including EF3+ intensity, are possible alongside damaging winds and large hail.
