A large wildfire in Otsuchi, Japan, on April 22, 2026, caused structural damage and evacuations after spreading from woodland into residential zones. At least five buildings were destroyed, with estimates of around 9 ha (22 acres) burned and about 130 people evacuated based on the latest available data.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect across a broad swath of the Plains, Rockies, and parts of the Upper Midwest on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as strong winds, very low relative humidity, and dry fuels create critical fire weather conditions. The National Weather Service warns that any fires that start could spread quickly and be hard to control. In some areas, isolated dry thunderstorms may produce lightning with little or no rain, increasing the risk of new fires.
Wildfires driven by drought conditions spread across Georgia, United States, with at least 112 active fires burning approximately 9 164 ha (22 643 acres) as of April 22. The largest blaze, the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County, reached 6 686 ha (16 516 acres) with 10% containment, while multiple fires continued to expand under dry and windy conditions.
Wind-driven ice shoves struck multiple lakes in Cheboygan County, Michigan, during an ongoing flooding event in April 2026, pushing onshore and into residential structures. The event is unfolding as elevated water levels from snowmelt and recent rainfall continue to drive flooding and evacuations across northern Michigan.
Severe storms are expected to develop from northern Oklahoma into southern Minnesota on April 23, 2026, bringing a risk of large to very large hail and damaging winds. A few tornadoes are possible, primarily during the early stages of storm development, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC).
Amtrak partially suspended rail operations in Florida on April 20, 2026, due to wildfires in Putnam and Clay counties, which have burned approximately 1 093 – 1 214 ha (2 700 – 3 000 acres). Passenger trains were halted as a precaution, including Train 98 from Miami to Jacksonville carrying 232 passengers.
Severe flooding and landslides struck Wellington, New Zealand, between April 20 and 21, 2026, after 77 mm (3 inches) of rain fell in less than 1 hour, prompting evacuations across multiple suburbs and leaving one person missing. A state of emergency remains in place as saturated ground and additional rainfall maintain the risk of further flooding and landslides.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued an official advisory warning of an elevated risk of a larger earthquake along its Pacific coast on April 20, 2026, after a M7.4 quake near the Japan Trench at 07:53 UTC (16:53 local time). The agency estimates about a 1% chance of a Mw7.8 or greater earthquake occurring within seven days, based on historical statistics.
Heavy snow and strong winds are forecast to impact the Sierra Nevada, California, from April 21 to April 22, 2026, as a Pacific storm system moves inland, bringing significant snowfall to elevations above 2 100 m (7 000 feet). Authorities warn that travel through major mountain passes could become very difficult to impossible due to snow-covered roads and reduced visibility.
A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, at 07:53 UTC (16:53 local time) on April 20, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). JMA and EMSC are reporting M7.4 at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.
