Freezing rain and heavy snow impacted the Upper Midwest on April 2 and 3, 2026, with significant ice accumulation leading to power outages across Wisconsin and hazardous travel conditions across multiple states. Forecasts indicate continued wintry precipitation through April 5 as additional systems move across the region.
Heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain are unfolding across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest on April 2, 2026, as a low-pressure system tracks northeast. A second winter storm is forecast to intensify from April 3–4, worsening the ongoing hazardous travel and increasing the risk of power outages across the Great Lakes region.
A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 hit the Molucca Sea, Indonesia, at 22:48 UTC on April 1, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (22 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), tsunami waves up to 0.65 m (2.1 feet) were observed at Kema, Sulawesi.
A late-season winter storm is forecast to impact the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region from late April 1 through April 3, 2026, bringing widespread freezing rain, sleet, and snow across multiple states. Ice Storm Warnings, Winter Storm Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, and Winter Storm Watches are in effect, with ice accumulations up to 10 mm (0.4 inches) and snowfall exceeding 45 cm (18 inches) in some areas, creating hazardous travel conditions and potential power outages.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit northern Peru at 11:20 UTC on April 1, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 108.8 km (67.6 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 115 km (71.5 miles).
A late-season winter storm combined with severe convective activity will affect the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes from April 1–3, 2026, producing heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and thunderstorms. The system is expected to generate hazardous ice accumulation and support severe storms capable of damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes.
A 1 600 km (1 000 miles) long sandstorm swept across parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania on March 30, 2026, before it moved into the Atlantic Ocean.
Severe thunderstorms accompanied by hail, strong winds, lightning, and isolated tornadoes affected northern Vietnam on March 29–30, 2026, leaving four people dead and nine injured. Fatalities were reported in Tuyen Quang, Son La, and Quang Ninh, while widespread structural and agricultural damage was recorded across multiple provinces.
Rain-related incidents killed at least 9 people and injured more than 42 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, Pakistan, over the 24 hours leading up to March 30, 2026. Most casualties were reported in the Bannu district, where six fatalities and over 40 injuries occurred, several of them critical.
Flooding triggered by heavy rainfall affected multiple districts across Malawi between March 15–18, 2026, leaving 34 people dead and 197 injured. The disaster impacted approximately 310 896 people across 69 088 households, with 6 155 households displaced and sheltered in 84 camps, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).
