Storm damage in Hawaii could exceed USD 1 billion as severe flooding from a Kona low affects Oʻahu on March 20–21, 2026, forcing about 5 500 residents to evacuate and triggering emergency warnings over the imminent risk of failure at Wahiawā Dam.
Wahiawa Dam on Oʻahu, Hawaii, was placed under an imminent failure risk alert on March 20, 2026, prompting emergency evacuations in downstream communities, including Haleiwa and Waialua.
Life-threatening flash flooding struck Oʻahu’s North Shore, Hawaii, on March 20, 2026, after a slow-moving Kona low produced more than 330 mm (13 inches) of rain in parts of northern Oʻahu in about 12 hours from the evening of March 19 into the morning of March 20. Flooding in the Haleiwa and Waialua areas cut off road access, prompted evacuation orders, and triggered emergency response operations.
A historic March heat event affected the U.S. Southwest on March 19 and 20, 2026, setting a new March temperature record in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a new highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States near Martinez Lake, Arizona. Multiple daily and monthly records were also broken across parts of Nevada, California, and Arizona, while authorities in Phoenix closed some hiking trails because of heat risk.
Flooding triggered by heavy rainfall across Malawi between March 15 and 18, 2026, affected 9 598 households, displaced 128 households, and left 13 people dead and 35 injured, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). Preliminary impacts were reported across 16 districts and city councils, with 12 evacuation camps established and road access disrupted in several areas.
Multiple Red Flag Warnings are in effect across parts of the High Plains through March 21, 2026, as very low humidity, gusty winds, and anomalously warm temperatures support critical fire weather conditions. The National Weather Service warns that any fires that develop could spread rapidly and erratically.
New activity/unrest was reported for 7 volcanoes from March 12 to 18, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 20 volcanoes.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall over the Queensland coast at 07:00 AEST on March 20 (21:00 UTC on March 19), as a high-end Category 4 system after briefly reaching Category 5 intensity a day earlier. The cyclone crossed the coast approximately 75 km (47 miles) south of Lockhart River, weakened to Category 2 by the afternoon, and began moving offshore toward the Gulf of Carpentaria. Destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding were reported across affected areas.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit 100 km (62.5 miles) WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu, at 02:30 UTC on March 20, 2026. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). This is the second M6+ earthquake of the day, following M6.6 in the South Shetland Islands at 00:22 UTC.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit the South Shetland Islands at 00:22 UTC on March 20, 2026. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.9 km (3 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
