A dangerous heatwave is forecast to intensify across much of the central and eastern United States starting Sunday, June 28, 2026. High temperatures up to 38°C (100°F) and heat index values reaching 38 to 43°C (100 to 110°F), locally as high as 46°C (115°F), through the Independence Day holiday weekend.
Flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Mekkhala killed two people in Taiwan after nearly 1 m (3 ft) of rain inundated parts of the island on Friday, June 26, 2026.Meanwhile, one fatality was reported in Japan which remained on high alert for flooding and landslides as tropical moisture from Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos interacted with the seasonal Baiu rain front, prompting evacuations, transport disruptions and widespread weather warnings.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Missoula upgraded Winter Storm Watches to Winter Storm Warnings at 11:04 MDT (17:04 UTC) on June 26, 2026, for four high-elevation zones in central Idaho and southwest Montana, where 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) of heavy wet snow, with isolated amounts up to 30 cm (12 inches), is forecast above about 2 000 m (6 500 feet) over the weekend.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared a State of Emergency and temporarily expanded the state forester’s authority to restrict fireworks through July 5, 2026, after the Cottonwood Fire grew into the largest active wildfire in the United States. The fire had burned about 29 000 ha (71 841 acres) in Beaver County and remained 0% contained as extreme fire weather fueled rapid growth across southern Utah on Friday, June 26.
High concentrations of Saharan dust are affecting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 26, 2026, reducing visibility and air quality as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) moves west. Drier Saharan air is forecast to reach South Florida from late Saturday, June 27, followed by a dust plume over Southeast Texas late Sunday, June 28, where hazy skies and reduced air quality are possible.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) placed much of the Netherlands under its first-ever Code Red warning for extreme heat on Friday after forecasting oppressive conditions, heat stress levels of 9 to 10 and temperatures reaching up to 40°C (104°F) in isolated locations.
Multiple countries across Europe established new June temperature records this week as an exceptional heatwave continued to intensify, pushing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) across large parts of the continent. In France, authorities said at least 55 people had drowned while attempting to cool off during the prolonged heatwave, as hospitals, emergency services, and governments struggled to respond to its escalating impacts, while Spain reported at least 212 heat-related fatalities from June 21 to 24.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit Mindanao, Philippines at 11:34 UTC (19:34 LT) on June 26, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 52.4 km (32.6 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to PTWC, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
Temperatures reached 36.7°C (98.1°F) at Merryfield, Somerset, on June 25, 2026, provisionally making it the hottest June day on record in the United Kingdom, according to the UK Met Office. The agency also reported new provisional June records in Wales and record-equalling heat in Northern Ireland.
Missing-person reports exceeded 35 000 after a rare and deadly earthquake doublet struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1 000 others.
